THIS is the jaw-dropping moment when a huge fireball erupted over a Russian oil refinery during Ukrainian drone strikes.

The vast mushroom cloud rose over the military-linked Novokuybyshevsk refinery in Russia‘s Samara region.

This plant supplies aviation fuel for Putin’s combat aircraft, which have been used in barbaric attacks against Ukrainian civilians.

Stunning footage shows flames erupting high into the air, engulfing the facility in a bright orange inferno.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ claimed the attack led to fire surging 590ft into the sky.

But, in a major blow to Vlad’s war machine, it is just one of several blazes reported at strategic sites across Russia.

Elsewhere, another oil refinery was set alight in Ryazan – which is a critical supplier for the Russian capital Moscow.

Fires were also reported at a military airfield Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Krasnodar region – which is used for Russia’s brutal drone strikes against Ukraine.

A “major hit” was further reported on a Russian air defence radar company in occupied Crimea.

One woman died in drone strikes on the Electropribor plant in Penza city – which makes special-purpose telecoms and cryptographic equipment to support Putin’s war machine.

As many as eight massive explosions were heard in the city during the drone strikes, according to reports.

Ukrainian forces also reportedly hit military targets in the Rostov region, leading to one death.

It comes as Russia continues to brutally bombard civilian targets in Ukraine.

A total of 31 people died, including five children, after Putin’s forces fired an Iskander missile into a residential tower block in Kyiv.

Devastating Russian strikes against civilian targets have also been reported in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions over the past week.

It comes after Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines be positioned near Russia.

The US President’s patience with Putin has worn thin in recent weeks over the Russian tyrant’s unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire.

He also slashed his 50 day deadline for a peace deal down to “10 to 12” days – towards the end of next week.

One of Putin’s cronies hit back at Trump following this move, accusing him of fanning the flames of war.

Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said: “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.

“Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!”

But Trump slammed Medvedev’s comments as “foolish and inflammatory” as he ordered for the submarines to be sent out.

“We always want to be ready, and so I have sent to the region two nuclear submarines,” Trump said.

“I just want to make sure that his words are only words and nothing more than that.”

He added: “A threat was made by a former president of Russia and we’re going to protect our people.”