Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight on September 25–26, setting the facility on fire. Kyiv said it targeted the plant to disrupt fuel supplies supporting Russia’s war effort. Russian authorities reported three deaths and two injuries in the wider attack, though it was unclear whether they occurred at the refinery. The full extent of the damage remains unverified.
In the above context, a video showing massive flames shooting into the night sky has gone viral on social media. In the video, we can see a massive ball of fire engulfing an enclosure while people are recording it from across the street.
The video is shared by users claiming that it captures Ukraine’s latest drone strike on the Kuibyshev oil refinery in the Russian city of Samara.
The footage has been shared widely with a caption that reads, “The White House repeatedly begged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop bombing Russian refineries. Forty-eight hours later, Ukrainian drones incinerated Rosneft’s Kuibyshev plant, wiping out 1.4 million tons of annual diesel capacity before dawn.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral video is from June 2026 and shows a gas pipeline explosion in Dagestan.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by a YouTube channel on June 10. The video is shared with a caption that reads, “Explosions were heard and a large fire broke out at a gas pipeline in the city of Kizilyurt in Dagestan. More than 100 people were evacuated from nearby homes; there were no injuries.”
The report associated with the video suggests that on June 9, three explosions struck the Mozdok–Kazimagomedov gas pipeline near Bavtugai and Gelbah in Dagestan, sparking a fire reportedly reaching 15 metres. More than 100 residents were evacuated from nearby Kyzylorda, though Russian agencies say people are returning home. No casualties have been reported. Crews contained the main flames, but nearby grass remained ablaze. The pipeline was shut and gas supplies interrupted; the cause remains unknown.
The incident was also reported by BBC Russia on June 9. The report suggests that the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports on its official website that the gas pipeline’s diameter is 1,200 mm. Following the explosion, the pipeline was shut down. Footage appeared on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels showing a fire and a tall column of flame.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.