Russia’s Samara oil hub was targeted by Ukrainian drones on Monday, resulting in a fire at the Samara Linear Production and Dispatch Station (LPDS).
According to the Kyiv Post, the Samara LPDS was likely hit after a fire was spotted at the facility.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2-11 Long Range Fires Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Artillery, fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a counter-landing live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at La Paz Sand Dunes, Laoag City, Philippines, May 4, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duke Edwards). Ukraine has such missiles to fight Russia.
SCALP Missile Ukraine Military Photo
While Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed that drones had attacked the region, he did not confirm whether the facility had been struck.
“There is a repulse of the attack of the Armed Forces on our territory,” he said. “Air defense and mobile fire groups are working.”
The Moscow Times reported that the facility had been struck, citing a Telegram post by the Russian media outlet Astra that showed a photo of a cloud of smoke and claimed residents had heard “explosions” in the region.
Flights were temporarily suspended at Samara’s Kurumoch International Airport for several hours following alerts of an air raid.
Russia Announced It Had Intercepted 212 Ukrainian Drones
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed in a statement that it had intercepted and destroyed 212 Ukrainian drones, including in Samara Oblast, on Sunday evening and Monday morning.
“Over the course of the past night, air defense alert forces intercepted and destroyed 212 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the territories of the Bryansk, Belgorod, Kursk, Kaluga, Tula, Voronezh, Pskov, Oryol, Lipetsk, Saratov, Samara, Ryazan, Tambov, Rostov regions, the Moscow region, Krasnodar Krai, the Republic of Crimea, and over the waters of the Black and Azov Seas,” said the Ministry of Defense.
Trump Asked Zelenskyy to Stop Targeting Oil Facilities, But Ukraine Has Ignored the Request
Despite President Donald Trump’s repeated requests to Ukraine that it stop targeting Russian oil facilities as global fuel prices continue to rise, the country has continued with its strikes, placing further tension on Trump’s relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Asked by Fox News on Sunday why Ukraine had continued to attack Russian oil facilities despite Trump’s request that they stop, Zelenskyy said, “We can’t respond after Russia attacks our energy, after Russia is killing our people. Attacks on our electricity, gas, refineries, on everything. We said that if you want us not to attack Russia’s refineries, they have to attack our energy system. Another alternative, give us Patriot missiles.”
Fox News host Trey Yingst asked, “Are you concerned that President Trump might see that as you trying to leverage him or the Americans?” to which Zelenskyy replied, “I don’t have any concerns when I share the truth between partners, and our countries are huge partners.”
Trump Has Called For Zelenskyy to be Replaced as President of Ukraine
Last month, Trump publicly called for Zelenskyy to be replaced as president of Ukraine after the country continued to strike Russian oil facilities.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does,” said Trump. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Zelenskyy quickly shot back at the president, remarking that “with all respect to President Trump, it’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader,” and that it would be “difficult” to hold elections in Ukraine until the war was over.
Fuel Prices Continue to Rise as a Result of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Trump’s War Against Iran
Fuel prices in the U.S. and across the world have continued to rise as a result of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, with the situation drastically worsening since the launch of Trump’s own war against Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump announced last month that he had negotiated a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin which would result in Russia supplying the U.S. and other countries with nearly five million tons of diesel over the coming months, based on the condition of their refineries.
“Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans, and indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!” boasted Trump.
Mere hours after the announcement, a Ukrainian drone detonated at a Russian oil facility in the Rostov Oblast, setting it ablaze.
About the Author: Charlie Nash
Charlie Nash is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Spectator, Mediaite, New Statesman, and the American Conservative, among other major publications. The Washington Post, Fox News, the Daily Beast, MS NOW, NewsNation, Hannity, and more have featured his reporting. You can follow Charlie on X at @CharlieNash and on LinkedIn.
