Ukrainian drones kill 2, hit Afipsky and Novoshakhtinsky refineries in southern Russia

Ukrainian drones struck southern Russia overnight, sparking a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai and damaging the Novoshakhtinsky refinery in Rostov region. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said falling drone debris killed two people and injured two others in the town of Afipsky, damaged at least 10 private homes, and disrupted operations at the Afipskaya railway station. The Afipsky refinery — which processes about 6.25 million tonnes of crude annually, over 2% of Russia's total refining volume — was hit for the fifth time this year, less than three weeks after its previous strike on Aug 7. In Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar confirmed drone strikes on Novoshakhtinsk damaged four private homes and sparked a forest fire; the Novoshakhtinsky refinery sustained damage and temporarily suspended processing, though no casualties were reported there.