Ukraine Strikes Major Gazprom Refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan, Sparks Fire

Ukrainian drones attacked the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan region on Aug. 13, triggering a fire at the major industrial complex, according to Russian and Ukrainian sources. Bashkortostan head Radiy Khabirov said drone debris fell in an industrial zone in the city of Salavat, causing a fire. Emergency services were deployed to the site, he said.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova reported that the target was the Salavat refinery. Russian residents also reported a large column of black smoke rising over the facility, according to the Astra news outlet. Major Russian Refinery Targeted Again The Salavat complex is Gazprom’s largest petrochemical facility and one of Russia’s major oil-processing sites. It can process up to 7.5 million metric tons of crude annually, accounting for about 2.7% of Russia’s total refining capacity. The plant produces gasoline, diesel, kerosene, liquefied gases, ammonia, urea and other petrochemical products. The refinery was already hit by Ukrainian drones on July 14. Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that the attack damaged two primary oil-processing units, forcing the facility to halt operations. Repairs were expected to take anywhere from several weeks to several months, according to Reuters sources. Russian Fuel Shortages Mount The latest strike comes as Ukraine has sharply stepped up attacks on Russia’s oil-refining infrastructure. Other Topics of Interest Russia Amasses 6,200 Kamikaze Drones for Armada Assault on Ukraine, HUR Says Moscow has accumulated about 6,200 Geran drones and could launch between 600 and 1,000 in a single mass attack Since the beginning of August, at least four Russian refineries have stopped processing crude following Ukrainian attacks, including facilities in Orenburg, Tyumen, Saratov and Volgograd regions. An S&P Global analysis cited by The Moscow Times found that Ukrainian attacks had disrupted operations at at least 26 Russian oil-processing facilities in 2026. Seven had yet to restore production by the end of July. Russia’s refining output has subsequently fallen to around 3.6 million barrels per day, according to EA Analytics – its lowest level since May 2002. The disruptions have contributed to a growing fuel shortage across Russia. Although gasoline shortages eased toward the end of July, problems resurfaced in August. Residents of at least 16 Russian regions have again reported long lines at gas stations and restrictions on fuel sales. In some regions, Gazprom and Lukoil stations have stopped selling AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline. The repeated strikes are putting increasing pressure on Russia’s already strained fuel supply as Ukraine continues targeting energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.