A Ukrainian drone struck Bashneft-Novoil oil refinery in central Russian city of Ufa around 1,400km from the frontline in Ukraine, Russian officials said on Saturday.
“Today, Bashneft’s facility was subjected to a terrorist attack by aircraft-type drones,” the head of Russia’s Bashkortostan region, Radiy Khabirov, wrote on Telegram app. "The production site has been slightly damaged and a fire broke out there, which is now being extinguished," he went on saying.
According to Khabirov have been no casualties during the attack ad the extent of damage is being assessed. Meanwhile, social media platforms have shared footage of the drone flying towards the oil refinery and exploding in a ball of flames. The incident triggered introduction of “drone threat” regime in the city, the closure of Ufa Airport, as well as suspension of operation of mobile internet in the city.
Ukrainian Intelligence Service under the Defence Ministry claimed responsibility for the strike on the complex that belongs to Bashneft-Novoil oil company is one of the largest ones in the country.
A wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure have caused fuel shortage and spike in energy prices across the country in summer. Ukraine says its targeting of Russia’s energy infrastructure in aimed at undermining Russia’s war efforts.
