The Ukrainian Security Agency launched a UAV attack on an oil refinery facility in the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan, 1,500 km from the border, the furthest since the beginning of the war.
AFP Citing a Ukrainian defense source today, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) used UAVs to attack an oil refinery facility in the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan. The source added that this was a “record far” raid, with the UAV flying about 1,500 km.
“The SBU once again demonstrated that it has powerful technological solutions that can deal painful blows to the enemy,” the source said, adding that Ukraine also raided two oil depots in Krasnodar province, southern Russia.
Smoke rose from the oil refinery facility in Salavat, Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan after the UAV attack. Video: X/ukrpravda_news
Radiy Khabirov, leader of the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan, confirmed that a UAV attack occurred in the industrial park of Salavat city around 13:00 (15:00 Hanoi time). A pumping station of Russian national energy corporation Gazprom here was damaged but “still operates as normal”.
Mr. Khabirov did not mention the origin of the UAV. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said the raid did not cause fires or casualties.
The raid took place in the context of Russia holding a Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow and many localities, commemorating the 79th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
“This is an attempt to sabotage our holiday. We do not give in to provocations. Happy Victory Day,” Mr. Khabirov said.
Rosneft’s oil refinery facility near the city of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia in February 2008. Image: Reuters
Russia and Ukraine have recently conducted many long-range raids on each other’s territory. Russian officials on April 2 announced that factories in the Republic of Tartastan in this country were attacked by UAVs, which did not affect the operations of the facilities but injured 6 people. Tartastan is about 1,300 km from the Ukrainian border.
On May 8, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with many weapons, including Kinzhal missiles, in response to similar actions by Kiev.