Thick black smoke billowed over the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Southern Russia, last night after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes set off multiple fires at the facility—located more than 700 miles from Ukraine. Russian officials confirmed that two drones struck the industrial complex, causing explosions and a partial collapse of the plant’s water treatment unit.
Authorities in Sterlitamak reported that no casualties have been recorded, though the blasts triggered widespread fire and significant damage to parts of the facility, which plays a key role in the production of rubber, aviation fuel, and other chemicals. Video footage circulated across Russian social media channels showed flames and plumes of dense smoke rising from the stricken site as emergency crews worked to contain the blazes.
The head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, acknowledged the attack and assured that fire services were deployed promptly. The strikes come amid an intensification of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on Russian energy and industrial infrastructure, aiming to disrupt logistical support critical to Moscow’s ongoing operations in Ukraine. Kyiv has not issued an official statement.
The attack on Sterlitamak marks one of the deepest strikes inside Russian territory, signaling Ukraine’s continued push to target assets far from the frontline. Russian authorities claim nearly 100 drones were intercepted across several regions during the night’s wave of attacks, but damage to key facilities has nevertheless been confirmed by local officials and independent footage.
