Ukrainian Drones Strike Key Russian Petrochemical Plant in Bashkortostan
On November 6, Ukrainian long-range drones struck the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in Russia's Bashkortostan, causing a fire in the workshop producing agidol, an aviation fuel additive. The plant supplies products to the Russian military-industrial complex. Russian authorities denied damage, claiming drones were intercepted. The attack reflects Ukraine's strategy to target deep Russian military and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported that on November 6, Ukrainian drones successfully struck the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in the Republic of Bashkortostan, over 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The plant produces key materials for the Russian military-industrial complex, including ionol, aviation gasoline, and synthetic polymers. The drone strike reportedly caused a fire in the workshop producing agidol, an important additive used in aviation fuel. Russian officials, including the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and local authorities, denied that the plant was hit or suffered damage, stating drones were intercepted and destroyed, although debris fell in the industrial zone. Prior to this, local officials admitted a drone attack on November 4 targeting the same plant was repelled. The Sterlitamak plant, operational since 1963 and owned by Russian chemical holding Ruschem, had recently begun domestic production of Agidol-100, enhancing Russia’s petrochemical industry capabilities. Ukraine's use of long-range drones deep inside Russian territory aims to disrupt logistics and weaken Russia's war machine. Russian responses commonly emphasize successful defense and do not confirm damage from such strikes. The incident fits into broader patterns of Ukraine targeting Russian military and energy infrastructure with drone attacks to counterbalance battlefield disadvantages.
