Ukrainian drones hit Gazprom Salavat plant in Bashkortostan and Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar, 1,500 km from front

Summary

Ukrainian drones struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat petrochemical plant in Russia's Bashkortostan republic and the Afipsky refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight July 13-14, setting both ablaze. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces confirmed the Bashkortostan hit. Russia's TASS said 288 UAVs were involved in the overall night barrage, which also struck 11 Russian vessels, according to the Kyiv Independent. Salavat, with a reported 10-million-tonne annual processing capacity, was described by Azerbaijan's APA as the last major Russian refinery to have remained undamaged in 2026; the Kyiv Post gave the strike range as 1,500 km from the front line.

Why it matters

The Salavat plant produces around 150 products, from gasoline to polyethylene, making it a petrochemical hub rather than a simple fuel refinery. Damage there compounds shortages already traced to Ukraine's sustained refinery campaign. TASS confirmed casualties in Russia's Kuban region from the Afipsky strike, adding a human toll to the infrastructure damage.

What to watch

• Fire containment at Salavat and any timeline for restored output
• Russia's retaliatory strike package in the coming 24-48 hours
• Full casualty figures from the Kuban region as emergency services access Afipsky
• Fuel and petrochemical prices in Russia's domestic market