Key facts
- Ukrainian drones struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refining and petrochemical complex in Russia's Bashkortostan region.
- The refinery is one of Russia's largest, processing up to 74 million barrels of oil annually.
- The attack resulted in a fire and wounded two civilians.
- This is the fourth refinery targeted by Ukraine in three days, impacting Russia's oil sector.
- A separate Russian refinery in Orsk remains suspended with repairs estimated to take six months.
Ukrainian drones have struck a major oil refining and petrochemical complex in Russia's Bashkortostan region, causing a significant fire. This incident, reported by Ukraine's General Staff, is part of an ongoing campaign targeting Russia's vital oil sector. The targeted facility, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, is one of Russia's largest, with an annual processing capacity of up to 74 million barrels.
Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov confirmed that a drone attack wounded two civilians and ignited a fire in an industrial zone. Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, also reported a fire at one of its facilities in the same industrial zone following the overnight attack. The company stated that the affected facility was evacuated and was not storing goods.
This attack follows similar strikes on Russian refineries earlier in the week. The refinery in Orsk, hit by drones on Tuesday, has suspended operations due to damage to its key infrastructure, including foreign equipment. Orenburg region Governor Yevgeny Solntsev indicated that repairs could take up to six months, citing international sanctions as a complicating factor.
Kyiv officials state that these attacks aim to diminish Russia's refining capacity, potentially leading to gasoline shortages and compelling President Vladimir Putin to seek a peace deal, though there is no indication this strategy is currently effective. Russia has continued its own offensive, hammering Ukraine with missiles and drones, which have resulted in civilian casualties.