Ukrainian drones strike major Russian refinery in Bashkortostan
Ukrainian forces hit the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex in Russia's Bashkortostan region, causing a fire and civilian injuries, while other recent attacks have disrupted Russian refining capacity.
Ukrainian military officials said drones attacked the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refining and petrochemical complex in Bashkortostan, a Russian republic located about 1,300 kilometres southeast of Moscow. The strike ignited a fire at the facility, which processes up to 74 million barrels of oil each year. Bashkortostan governor Radiy Khabirov reported that two civilians were wounded in the incident.
The attack follows a series of Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure, including a recent strike on a refinery in Orsk that has halted production and may require up to six months for repairs, according to Orenburg region governor Yevgeny Solntsev.
Separately, Russian authorities said four explosive experts and a security guard were killed in Sevastopol, Crimea, when an unspecified Ukrainian weapon detonated during an inspection of a prior attack site.
Both sides have been unable to independently verify the claims. The ongoing conflict has also seen increased Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian territory, resulting in civilian casualties, according to United Nations data.