Ukrainian long-range drones struck a major petrochemical complex and a Wildberries logistics hub in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan, regional officials reported Thursday, marking another escalation in an ongoing campaign targeting Moscow’s vital energy and supply infrastructure more than four years into the full-scale invasion.
Drone Barrage Hits Industrial Zone in Bashkortostan
Ukrainian drones targeted a logistics hub owned by Wildberries and sparked a fire at a major oil refinery in the republic of Bashkortostan, according to The Moscow Times. Regional head Radiy Khabirov stated that 16 drones were shot down over the city of Salavat and five others over the nearby Chishminsky district, located roughly 1,200 kilometers east of Moscow and more than 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Two people were injured in today’s attacks. Both are in hospitals receiving all necessary care,
Khabirov wrote on Telegram, noting that falling debris sparked a blaze in an industrial area.
The exiled media outlet Astra identified the targeted industrial facility as the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat refinery, which accounts for 2.7% of Russia’s total refining throughput and had previously halted operations following damage sustained in an attack last month. Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, confirmed that a fire broke out at an industrial zone housing one of its facilities, adding that staff had been evacuated in advance and no retail merchandise was being stored there.
Across the wider region, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted 362 Ukrainian drones across 18 Russian regions and annexed Crimea between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The barrage triggered temporary flight suspensions and restrictions at regional airports in Ufa, Kazan, Samara, and Krasnodar.
Refinery Damage and Extended Repair Timelines
The strike in Bashkortostan follows a series of intensive, nearly daily drone operations aimed at crippling Russia’s petroleum sector. In the Orenburg region, a Russian refinery in Orsk suspended operations after being hit by Ukrainian drones earlier in the week, according to regional Gov. Yevgeny Solntsev.
Ukraine’s General Staff reported that its forces struck the Orsk refinery near the border with Kazakhstan on Tuesday, noting that the plant possesses an annual capacity to process about 6 million tons of crude oil.
Deadly Strikes in Tatarstan and Expanding Drone Ranges
The broader air campaign has inflicted heavy civilian casualties far from the front lines. A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk in the Tatarstan region killed 13 people and wounded 78 others, local authorities reported in the aftermath of the massive strike.
Ukrainian military officials confirmed they targeted a Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is roughly 750 miles east of the Ukrainian border. Domestically developed long-range drones continued to push deeper into Russian territory, with some reaching as far as Siberia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the strategy in social media statements, emphasizing that the campaign is designed to force Moscow toward peace negotiations. We do deliver entirely justified responses, and every Russian strike will be met with our response,
Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia’s war will be felt more and more at their own home – in Russia.
Ongoing Retaliation and Humanitarian Impact
In response to the drone campaign, Russian forces have continued heavy aerial bombardments across Ukraine using ballistic missiles, glide bombs, and long-range drones.
The humanitarian toll has drawn warnings from international organizations. The World Health Organization’s European office reported that one of its warehouses in Ukraine’s central Dnipro region was struck twice in less than 24 hours, destroying emergency supplies worth an estimated $500,000 that were intended for front-line health facilities.
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