Ukrainian drones have struck a major Russian petrochemical plant for the second time in less than a week, as Ukraine steps up its attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure.
The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex is Russia’s 10th largest refinery, located in the Ural Mountains region of Bashkortostan. Ukraine has attacked 16 Russian refineries since the start of August.
“Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat has been subjected to another terrorist drone attack. We are assessing the extent of the damage. All emergency services are on scene, and firefighting measures are underway,” wrote Bashkortostan’s head of government Radiy Khabirov.
Ukrainian drones also struck Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat on 18 September, similarly causing a fire at the facility. Its drones first attacked the refinery in May 2024.
The complex has an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes, and includes two chemical plants as well as an oil refinery.
Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has restricted oil storage in its pipeline system and told producers that output cuts may be needed amid Ukraine’s attacks on refineries, Reuters reported last week. Transneft has denied this.
These strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure reportedly reduced the country’s refining capacity by almost 20% at one point.
All major Russian oil companies saw a two to three-fold drop in profits in 2025’s first half, even before Ukraine stepped up its refinery attacks, amid a new slate of sanctions.
The European Commission is also preparing a proposal to impose tariffs on Russian oil, following pressure from the United States. The U.S. doubled tariffs on Indian goods last month due to India’s Russian oil purchases.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations general assembly today that Russia would use drones to attack other countries in Europe if left unchecked. Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace at least 19 times on the night of 10 September.
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