A massive fire erupted overnight at the Ufimsky oil refinery in the Russian city of Ufa, located 1,400 kilometers inside Russia, local authorities reported on March 3.
Regional emergency services confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and stated, "No excess of harmful substances has been recorded near the plant."
While no official cause was given, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russia's oil infrastructure with drone strikes since the spring of 2024.
Russian Telegram channels reported an explosion at the refinery shortly before the fire broke out, though these reports have not been independently verified by The Kyiv Independent.
Strategic Targeting of Russian Oil Facilities
Ukraine has long viewed Russian oil facilities as legitimate military targets, citing their role in funding Moscow's war efforts.
However, Kyiv has not commented on the Ufa refinery fire.
The Bashneft-owned refinery has a processing capacity of 168,000 barrels per day, with its oil supply primarily coming from Bashkiria and western Siberia. As one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, its significance in the country’s energy sector is substantial.
Ufa, the capital of Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, is located 1,520 km east of Moscow and 550 km north of Kazakhstan's border.
