By Gloria Nosa
Ukraine’s military intelligence confirmed on Saturday, September 13, that a drone strike hit one of Russia’s largest oil refining facilities, located roughly 1,400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The attack targeted the Bashneft refinery complex near Ufa, the capital of the Bashkortostan region.
According to regional governor Radiy Khabirov, one drone crashed into the site while another was intercepted and destroyed. He described the incident as a “terrorist attack” carried out by aircraft-type drones, but noted that the damage was minor.
“No one was injured. The plant suffered only slight damage, and a small fire broke out, which has since been contained,” Khabirov stated.
Footage circulating online appeared to capture the moment a drone approached the facility before erupting in flames, sending thick smoke into the air.
A source within Ukraine’s GUR intelligence agency confirmed Kyiv’s involvement. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian refineries since the war escalated in February 2022, aiming to weaken Moscow’s oil revenues that bankroll its military operations. The Bashneft refinery, one of the country’s largest, is known to produce over 150 oil-based products, according to past Kremlin reports.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO allies to completely halt purchases of Russian oil, emphasizing it as a necessary step to tighten pressure on Moscow. However, member states including Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia continue to import Russian crude despite ongoing sanctions.
This strike follows a wave of Ukrainian drone operations earlier in the summer, which forced temporary shutdowns at several Russian refineries and contributed to surging fuel prices both domestically and internationally.
