Explosions, smoke reported near Russian oil refinery after drone threat

Explosions and smoke were reported near an oil refinery in Ufa, the capital of Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, on September 23, 2026, according to Russian independent outlet Astra. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 514 drones overnight across 18 regions, including Bashkortostan, occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas. Local residents reported hearing explosions in Ufa, and local Telegram channels indicated that air defenses were operating over the city. Astra's OSINT analyst suggested that smoke rose in the vicinity of the Ufa oil refinery, though noted it could also have originated from a nearby thermal power plant. A "drone threat" alert was issued in Bashkortostan, and Rosaviatsiya imposed temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Ufa airport. The Kyiv Independent noted it could not independently verify the report, and Russian authorities had not commented on a drone attack in the region as of publication. Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have become a significant aspect of Kyiv's long-range drone strategy, contributing to nationwide fuel shortages and a reduction in refinery output. Half of Russia's six largest diesel-producing refineries have cut or halted output in September following such attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing concerns about global diesel shortages exacerbated by disruptions to fuel supplies.