Ukrainian Drones Strike Oil Refinery in Bashkortostan, Trigger Fires in Krasnodar and Donetsk

On the night of July 14, 2026, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles struck the Salavat oil refinery in the Republic of Bashkortostan, located approximately 1,400 kilometers from the front line. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions, and photos and videos shared on social media show thick black smoke rising above the refinery.

The refinery is owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom and is one of the largest oil processing complexes in the country. According to The Moscow Times, in 2024 the refinery processed 7.2 million tons of crude oil, accounting for about 2.7% of Russia's total refining capacity. The same facility had been targeted twice by Ukrainian drones in September 2025, but at the time Bashkortostan governor Radiy Khabirov claimed it continued operating normally.

Russian authorities confirmed that a Ukrainian drone attack also caused a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar region. Several residential buildings and a railway crossing were damaged. The Russian state news agency TASS, citing local officials, reported casualties in the Seversky district of Krasnodar region.

In Russian-occupied Donetsk, a fire broke out at an ammunition depot belonging to the occupying forces on the same night, triggering the detonation of stored munitions. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported this and released videos showing a large fire and explosions. The exact location of the depot and the cause of the fire remain unknown.