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Ukrainian Drones Reportedly Cause Fire at Russia's Afipsky Refinery, Possible Damage at Salavat Refinery

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A Ukrainian drone strike on the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia overnight from Monday to Tuesday resulted in a fire that was later put out, local authorities said, according to media reports, while a separate strike hit an area close to Gazprom's Neftekhim Salavat refinery.

The fire was started by falling drone debris, emergency services announced on the Telegram messenger application, instead of by a direct hit, Bloomberg reported.

The refinery with a 180,000 barrel-per-day capacity has been hit several times by Ukraine, which has so far claimed the latest strike, the report said. Russian oil refining has plummeted and fuel shortages are now widespread across its territory.

Bloomberg said the strike near the 200,000 b/d Salavat facility in the Bashkortostan republic had caused multiple fires, while owner Gazprom did not respond to its request for comment. Interfax reported that the facility was not damaged, citing local authorities.

Ukrainian publication RBC-Ukraine however, citing Telegram channel Exilenova+, said that the refinery itself had been attacked and that fire and smoke were reported coming from the site, according to Turkiye Today.

has reached out to the Russian government for comments.

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