On the night of Thursday, Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Salavat in Bashkortostan. According to Meduza and Ukrainian Telegram channels Supernova+ and Exilenova+, the target was an oil refinery located approximately 1,400 kilometers from the front line. Local residents reported seeing thick smoke coming from the facility. The head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, stated that debris from a downed drone fell in one of the industrial zones of the city, after which a fire broke out. As of now, there are no official reports of casualties. The attacked facility, Gazprom Neftkhim Salavat, owned by Gazprom, is considered one of the largest oil refining complexes in Russia. According to The Moscow Times, in 2024, the plant processed 7.2 million tons of oil, which accounts for approximately 2.7% of the total oil refining volume in the country. This is not the first strike on the facility. It was previously reported that after a drone attack on the night of July 14, the plant was forced to temporarily suspend operations. For such facilities, even short-term disruptions can lead to the halt of individual production processes; however, information regarding the potential impact of the current attack on the plant's operations has not yet been published. At the same time, Telegram channels reported another incident in Bashkortostan. According to them, a fire broke out at the warehouse of the online retailer Wildberries after the attack. Residents of the Chishminsky district reported seeing a column of black smoke over the company's logistics center. However, neither Wildberries nor local authorities have officially confirmed the connection between the fire and the drone attack or commented on the incident. As new information comes in, authorities and emergency services may clarify the consequences of the night attack and the extent of the damage caused.
