Ukrainian drones hit Gazprom Salavat and other Russian energy sites

Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian energy and industrial sites on Wednesday, including a major Gazprom petrochemical complex in Bashkortostan and loading facilities on the Black Sea coast, officials on both sides said, in a wave of attacks that further strained Russia's refining and export capacity. Regional and Ukrainian military sources said the strikes sparked fires, damaged office buildings and briefly halted tanker loadings at key ports.

Radiy Khabirov, head of Bashkortostan, said on his Telegram channel that Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat had been "subjected to another terrorist drone attack" and that emergency services were fighting fires while the extent of damage was being assessed. The Salavat complex, one of Russia's largest petrochemical and refining sites, produces gasoline, diesel, kerosene and hundreds of chemical products. Local footage circulating on social media showed a large column of black smoke rising from the facility; the Russian Defense Ministry did not mention the incident in its overnight update.

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed strikes on energy and defense-related targets in Russia, saying operations hit the Salavat facility's ELOUAVT6 primary...