Successful Ukrainian attack shocks Russia, as plant goes up in flames

Ukrainian forces undertook multiple successful UAV operations, severely damaging the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant JSC in Bashkortostan and an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed, "Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the infrastructure of the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez plant (Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia). The Nizhny Novgorod Refinery has a maximum annual refining capacity of 18 million tons. The plant is engaged in supplying the Russian occupation army. A hit on the facility and a fire in the target area were recorded. The extent of the damage is being determined,"

The aftermath of the blast in Sterlitamak was initially reported by Russian citizens living in the city. Their videos were circulated via the watchdog telegram channel, Cheka-OGPU.

The site also shared official communications from Kremlin authorities:

"Today, an explosion occurred in the water treatment plant of JSC SNHZ. Part of the plant collapsed. Five people were working there. According to preliminary reports, no one was injured. All emergency services have arrived at the scene. I am also on my way to the scene. The cause of the explosion is being investigated. I will keep you updated as information becomes available. Do not panic and trust only official sources."

Radiy Khabirov, the head of Bashkortostan, told a telegram news source that, "Both drones were shot down by the Ministry of Defence and the security service of the enterprises. The debris fell in an industrial area near an auxiliary workshop,"

Contrary to Khabirov’s comments, Kremlin sources, city officials, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine all previously confirmed the explosion was caused by a UAV.

According to Ukrainian defense officials, "nearly twenty flexible tanks (approximately 900 m3 of fuel and lubricants) and two pumping stations were destroyed [in Sterlitamak]."

The other attack was also successful in destroying at least part of an oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

According to Ukrainian watchdog channels, the operation was jointly carried out by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Armed Forces drone operators, and Special Operations Forces, using more than 50 Bober and FP-1 UAVs.

The refinery supplied fuel to the Moscow region. Ukrainian officials stress that the facility was for military use, not international distribution.

Citizen reporters filmed a fire breaking out at the plant after the explosion, further damaging the refinery.