Ukrainian Drone Strike Paralyzes Major Russian Refinery in Salavat

Local governor Radiy Khabirov confirmed the incident, which targeted the facility’s critical infrastructure. Two industry sources indicated that the CDU-6 and CDU-4 refining units suffered direct hits, necessitating an immediate shutdown of the site’s primary output streams. While official statements from the plant suggest a resumption of operations within days, the severity of the damage to primary units often requires prolonged maintenance windows that can span weeks or months.

Salavat occupies a central role in Russia’s downstream energy sector, processing 7.2 million tons of crude oil throughout 2024. The complex serves as a major supplier of gasoline, diesel, and specialized chemical products. The plant's press service has declined to comment on the operational status while investigators assess the full scope of the destruction.