A Ukrainian drone crashed into one of Russia's largest oil refining complexes on Saturday, sparking a fire and causing minor damage, a Russian official said.
The complex, which belongs to Russian oil company Bashneft, lies around 1,400 kilometers from the front line in Ukraine on the outskirts of Ufa, the capital of Russia's republic of Bashkortostan.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show a drone drifting towards the facility before exploding in a ball of flames, sending a cloud of smoke into the sky.
"Today, Bashneft's facility was subjected to a terrorist attack by aircraft-type drones," Bashkortostan's head Radiy Khabirov said on Telegram.
One drone crashed into the plant, while another was shot down, he said.
"There were no casualties or injuries. The production site sustained minor damage, and a fire broke out, which is currently being extinguished," he added.
A source in Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since Moscow launched its full-scale military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has responded with attacks on Russian refineries in an attempt to curb the Kremlin's ability to fund the conflict.
A wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries over the summer hit processing capacity at several key sites and pushed fuel prices up at the pump.
The Kremlin described Bashneft's Ufa refining complex in 2016 as "one of the largest in the country," saying it produced more than 150 types of oil products.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Remind me later.