Ukraine's Special Operations Forces confirmed striking the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan overnight on July 14, causing the plant to halt operations, Reuters reported citing two industry sources. The facility is one of Russia's largest oil refining complexes.
According to Reuters, both primary crude processing units were damaged: the ELOW-AVT-6 unit with a capacity of 17,140 tonnes per day and the ELOW-AVT-4 unit processing 11,430 tonnes of gas condensate daily. The AVT-6 unit accounts for about 60% of the plant's capacity, while AVT-4 provides 40%. Several secondary processing units and other equipment were also affected.
Ukraine's military said the AVT-6 unit was specifically hit. The monitoring channel Exilenova+ also reported a strike on workshop No. 20, which produces high-density polyethylene.
Repairs could take from several weeks to several months, Reuters wrote. Bashkortostan's head, Radiy Khabirov, said after the attack that the plant's main facilities were not damaged and that operations would resume within days. The press service of Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
The plant produces gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and other products. In 2024, it accounted for 2.7% of Russia's total oil refining volume, according to Reuters. Analyst Vyacheslav Shiryaev calculated that the shutdown means a loss of about 11,000 tonnes of daily fuel supplies to the domestic market — roughly 5% of the country's needs.
Simultaneously with the attack on Salavat, Ukrainian drones struck the Afipsky refinery in the Krasnodar region. The local operational headquarters confirmed a fire on the plant's territory, with one person injured.
Accounts differ: Khabirov said the drones were shot down and fires resulted from falling debris, while Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and monitoring channels claim direct hits on production facilities. Reuters reports both primary processing units were shut down; Ukrainian sources specify at least the AVT-6 was hit. Estimates of recovery time also diverge: Khabirov spoke of several days, while Reuters' sources cited weeks to months.