Unusual views from Russia, at least 11 columns of smoke rise above oil refinery

A huge fire broke out on Friday at an oil refinery in the Samara region of Russia after a drone attack.

According to reports from Russian channels on Telegram, the fire started at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, following warnings of a drone attack and a series of explosions.

Images and videos circulating on social media appear to show the size of the fire, with several large columns of black smoke rising high into the sky, euronews writes.

The attack comes as Ukraine, under pressure from Washington, suspended its attacks on Russian refineries, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The suspension was expected to last until after the US midterm elections, which are due to take place on November 3.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian refineries, claiming they are contributing to rising global fuel prices.

Earlier this month, he also announced a controversial deal to buy diesel from Moscow, with the aim of influencing lower fuel prices.

Ukrainian forces had carried out long-range attacks on this refinery in August, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the time.

On August 22, Zelensky declared that Ukrainian forces had struck the refinery, which is located about 1000 kilometers from the front line.

According to the Russian company Rosneft, the refinery has the capacity to process about 8.8 million tons of crude oil per year and is also involved in the production of jet fuel.

Rosneft has owned this refinery since 2007.