KYIV/MOSCOW, Sept 14 : Ukraine launched its largest drone operation in months, striking Russia’s biggest oil terminal and forcing a halt in crude exports on Saturday, international media reported.
The attack targeted the Bashneft-owned Ufa refinery in Bashkortostan, about 1,400 kilometres from the front line. Two tankers caught fire during the assault, with one reportedly capable of carrying up to 700,000 barrels of oil, according to The New York Post. Though the blaze was extinguished, it remains unclear if crude loading operations have resumed.
Radiy Khabirov, head of Russia’s Bashkortostan region, confirmed that one drone hit the facility while another was shot down. “There were no casualties or injuries. The production site sustained minor damage, and a fire broke out, which is currently being extinguished,” he posted on Telegram.
Videos circulating on social media showed a drone exploding into a massive fireball at the site, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
The Ufa refinery, described by the Kremlin in 2016 as “one of the largest in the country,” produces more than 150 petroleum products. The strike is part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to cripple Russia’s oil infrastructure, which plays a key role in funding its war effort.
Over the summer, similar drone strikes disrupted refining capacity at multiple Russian plants, driving up fuel prices.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO allies to stop importing Russian oil, stressing the need for tougher economic measures to pressure Moscow. Despite sanctions, countries such as Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian crude.