Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) drones struck a Russian oil refinery in the Bashkortostan Republic on the morning of Oct. 11, resulting in explosions and a fire, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent.
The news comes as Ukraine escalates attacks against the Russian gas and oil industry, a key source of revenue helping Moscow sustain its all-out invasion.
The strike targeted the Bashnafta-UNPZ plant in Ufa, a city that is one of Russia's largest centers for the refining industry, supplying fuel and lubricants to the Russian Armed Forces, according to the source.
Preliminary reports suggest that after several explosions, a fire broke out in the area of the crude-oil processing unit ELOU-AVT-6.
The source reported that a plume of black smoke was visible rising in the vicinity of the plant, and fire trucks were en route to the site. The extent of damage remains unclear.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed five fixed-wing Ukrainian drones over Bashkortostan on Oct. 11. Regional authorities have not commented on possible damage or casualties.
The attack against the facility, which lies approximately 1,400 kilometers (about 870 miles) from the front line in Ukraine, marks the third SBU drone strike against Bashkortostan in the past month.
SBU long-range drones previously struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat petrochemical plant in the same region in two separate attacks on Sept. 18 and Sept. 24.
Another drone strike, carried out by Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), hit the Bashneft-Novoyl refinery in Ufa on Sept. 12.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Oct. 11 that Russia's oil processing capacity has dropped by 21% amid Ukrainian attacks. Several Russian regions are facing gasoline shortages as Moscow ramps up fuel imports.
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