Ukrainian forces have carried out successful long-range drone strikes on the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant (SNKhZ) in Bashkiria, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported, as quoted by the BBC.
According to the GUR, the attack was launched on November 6 and caused a fire in one of the plant's workshops. The Ukrainian service claims that the enterprise produces products for the Russian army and military-industrial complex, including ionol, aviation gasoline and synthetic polymers.
Russian officials have not confirmed the information about the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry's daily report on November 6 only stated that a drone was "intercepted and destroyed" over the territory of Bashkortostan. Neither the governor of Bashkortostan nor the mayor of Sterlitamak reported an attack on the city.
However, on November 4, the head of Sterlitamak confirmed an explosion at the water treatment plant of the city's chemical plant. According to him, the incident was the result of an attack by two drones, which was later confirmed by the governor of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov.
Ukraine rarely publicly comments on strikes deep inside Russian territory, but in recent months Kiev has stepped up its use of long-range drones against targets related to Russian energy and military infrastructure. Moscow usually reports interceptions of such aircraft without acknowledging damage.