A Ukrainian drone reportedly struck one of Russia’s largest oil refining facilities on Saturday, triggering a fire and causing light damage, according to Russian officials.
The incident occurred at a Bashneft refinery located on the outskirts of Ufa, a central Russian city situated roughly 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the active front lines in Ukraine.
Videos circulating on social media captured the moment a drone approached the refinery and exploded, creating a fireball and sending plumes of smoke into the sky.
“Today, Bashneft’s facility was subjected to a terrorist attack by aircraft-type drones,”
said Radiy Khabirov, governor of Russia’s Bashkortostan region, via Telegram.
Khabirov noted that one drone crashed into the plant, while another was intercepted and destroyed.
He added that no casualties or injuries were reported, though minor structural damage was recorded, and emergency crews were working to extinguish the blaze.
Meanwhile, a source within Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR) claimed responsibility for the strike.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has ramped up cross-border attacks on Russian infrastructure, particularly oil refineries.
The strategy is aimed at disrupting the Kremlin’s wartime economy and hindering its ability to fund military operations.
Throughout the summer, a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeted key refining sites across Russia, impacting processing capacities and reportedly driving up fuel prices at retail stations.
The Ufa complex, owned by Bashneft, has long been recognized as one of Russia’s most critical energy assets.
In 2016, the Kremlin described the facility as “one of the largest in the country,” capable of producing over 150 different petroleum products.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns over the expansion of the conflict beyond Ukrainian territory.
It also comes amid heightened NATO activity, border security fears in neighboring countries like Poland, and faltering peace talks, according to related reports.
