Russian Court Orders Yandex To Remove Oil Refinery Maps Over Drone Strike Concerns

A Moscow court has ordered Yandex, Russia‘s leading search engine, to remove detailed maps and images of a strategic oil refinery following multiple drone attacks that have damaged infrastructure and injured workers. The ruling reflects growing concerns about openly available mapping data being used to coordinate drone strikes against critical infrastructure, according to Bloomberg News.

Drone Attacks Prompt Security Measures

The Legal action, initiated by Russian state prosecutors, specifically targets online imagery and mapping data showing the layout of what appears to be the Rosneft PJSC’s Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest petroleum processing facilities. Court documents reveal that the facility suffered four separate drone attacks throughout 2024, resulting in infrastructure damage, production disruptions, and worker injuries.

Strategic Infrastructure Under Threat

The refinery, characterized in court documents as part of Russia’s military-industrial complex, has become increasingly vulnerable to precision drone strikes. The court’s decision specifically cited how Yandex’s detailed mapping data, which shows the location of workshops, storage tanks, and other critical infrastructure, creates significant security risks.

Broader Pattern of Infrastructure Targeting

These attacks are part of a larger campaign by Ukrainian forces targeting Russian fuel production capabilities. The drone strikes have proven particularly effective, causing fires, production interruptions, and in some cases, complete facility shutdowns. This strategic targeting appears designed to disrupt both Russia’s military fuel supply chain and its ability to generate revenue from fuel exports.

The timing of this court order highlights the increasing sophistication of drone warfare in modern conflicts, particularly how publicly available mapping data can be leveraged for military purposes. This development also underscores the growing tension between information accessibility and national security concerns in an era of advanced drone capabilities.

While Yandex has declined to comment on the court order, the ruling demonstrates how commercial technology companies are increasingly finding themselves at the intersection of civilian services and military security considerations. The case may set a precedent for how other Countries handle similar security concerns related to detailed mapping data of critical infrastructure in conflict zones.

Read more about drone strikes.