A fire erupted at one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in the city of Ufa in Bashkortostan, approximately 900 miles from the Ukrainian border, following a reported drone attack.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Ukraine has primarily used drones to target Russian sites that support the country’s war efforts. These include airfields, military plants, ammunition depots, warehouses, and oil hubs and refineries, which have boost Russia’s economy and supplied fuel to President Vladimir Putin‘s military since the conflict began on February 24, 2022.
What To Know
Videos circulating on social media showed a huge fire engulf the Bashneft-owned refinery, which is situated about 932 miles east of the Ukrainian border, and processes up to 168,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters.
🛢️🔥/1. Just now! Russian oil refinery in Ufa was targeted by long range kamikaze drones, 1350km from the frontline!
This is the first strike on Ufa oil refinery, and it’s also the furthest targeted one.
There are several complexes under the common name “Bashneft” in Ufa: The… pic.twitter.com/2n2QVCiWGY
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) March 2, 2025
The Bashkortostan Ministry of Emergency Situations said the fire erupted “in the area of the incinerator.”
“There is no threat to residents of nearby areas. A laboratory is operating on site to monitor the air quality. There were no reports of casualties,” the region’s emergency ministry said in a statement on social-media platform Telegram.
The ministry said technical issues caused the fire, but prominent Russian Telegram channels with links to local security services said that residents reported hearing drones and explosion sounds in the city before the fire broke out.
Newsweek couldn’t independently verify the reports of a drone attack.
The fire has been extinguished, the Bashkortostan Ministry of Emergency Situations said in an update on Monday morning. About 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, according to Russia’s state-run news agency Interfax.
Ukrainian publication UNN notes that the Ufa oil refinery is one of Russia’s largest.
What People Are Saying
Open source intelligence X account OSINT technical posted: “Ukrainian attack drones successfully conducted one of the deepest strikes of the war tonight, hitting Russia’s Ufa Oil Refinery, over 1300 km behind the front line. The Russian refinery is burning.”
Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko said on X, formerly Twitter: “Yet another oil facility is burning following a Ukrainian attack.”
Chris Jackson, a political strategist and radio host, said on X: “Ukrainian drones just pulled off one of the deepest strikes of the war—hitting Russia’s Ufa Oil Refinery 1,300 km behind the front lines. The refinery is burning. Kyiv isn’t playing around.”
Special Kherson Cat, an account on X that posts videos from the war in Ukraine, said: “This is the first strike on Ufa oil refinery, and it’s also the furthest targeted one.”
What Happens Next
Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and industrial facilities will persist as the war continues.
Pierre Crom/Getty Images