Ukrainian Drones Set Rosneft Ryazan Refinery Ablaze — 3–4 Killed in Russia; Military Aircraft and Air Defense Destroyed at Yeysk and Crimea

Overnight May 14–15, 2026, Ukraine launched a large-scale retaliatory drone blitz against Russian military and energy infrastructure across multiple oblasts — described by Zelensky as a direct response to Russia's record aerial assault on Kyiv. The most significant strike hit Rosneft's Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia's largest energy facilities, processing 17.1 million metric tons of crude per year and serving as a primary fuel supplier to Moscow. A massive fire consumed vacuum distillation units; large smoke plumes were visible for hours and black oil droplets coated cars and apartment buildings across Ryazan city as debris fell. This was reportedly Ukraine's third strike on the Ryazan refinery in 2026. The attack killed 3–4 people and injured at least 12. Ukraine also struck military targets: a Beriev Be-200 Altair amphibious aircraft and a Ka-27 helicopter at Yeysk airbase in Krasnodar Krai were reported destroyed, and a Tor-M2 air defense system in occupied Luhansk Oblast and a Pantsir-S1 in occupied Crimea (with explosions also reported in Yevpatoria and Saky) were hit. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed 355 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight, but the Ryazan refinery destruction — approximately 180 km southeast of Moscow — confirmed significant penetration of Russian air defenses. The strike continued Ukraine's 2026 deep-strike energy campaign that has now hit Tuapse (4 times), Kirishi, Orenburg, Astrakhan, and Ryazan — costing Russia an estimated $7.5B+ in energy sector losses. Day 1,541 of the full-scale invasion.