On November 6, 2025, long-range strike drones operated by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence successfully hit the Sterlitamak Oil and Chemical Plant in Bashkortostan, deep inside russian territory. The facility is one of the most important industrial sites in russia's petrochemical sector, serving both the civilian economy and the military-industrial complex.
The Sterlitamak plant plays a critical role in producing materials used by russian forces. Its product range includes aviation gasoline, synthetic polymers, and a number of specialized chemical additives, such as Ionol, an antioxidant widely used in fuel stabilization for military vehicles and aircraft.
Read more: Rheinmetall's Skynex in Ukraine Proves Effective Not Only Against Shahed Drones but Also Against Kh-101 and Kalibr Missiles
According to the intelligence service, the drones targeted a production workshop that manufactured Agidol, a key additive used in aviation fuel. The strike caused a large fire at the site, visible from several kilometers away.
Russian emergency services were reportedly dispatched to contain the blaze, but local eyewitnesses noted secondary explosions and continued burning for hours.
The Sterlitamak Oil and Chemical Plant is considered one of the most strategically significant petrochemical facilities in russia's Volga-Ural industrial zone. Its operations are closely tied to the russian defense industry, particularly in the production of components for aviation fuels and synthetic materials for military hardware.
The attack marks yet another successful deep-strike operation by Ukraine's long-range drone units, which have increasingly targeted russia's critical infrastructure in 2025. These strikes have focused on refineries, fuel depots, and defense-related manufacturing sites, aiming to degrade russia's capacity to sustain its war effort against Ukraine.
As Defense Express previously reported, in a major deep-strike operation, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces destroyed russian storage and launch facility for the Shahed kamikaze drones in temporarily occupied Donetsk on the evening of November 5. The target was located within the territory of the former Donetsk International Airport.
Read more: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Blow Up russian Shahed Drone Depot at Donetsk Airport
