Smoke spotted over Russia's Ufa industrial zone after drone attack UPDATED

Smoke was reported over the industrial zone in the northern part of Ufa, Russia, following a drone attack and explosions, eyewitnesses told the independent outlet ASTRA.

Several Bashneft oil refineries are located in the area and have been targeted in a series of reported drone attacks in recent months.

On August 27, smoke was reported over the Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim refinery following a drone attack. The Bashneft-Novoyl plant caught fire after an attack on August 5, while a fire was reported at Bashneft-UNPZ following another attack on August 2.

The Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim refinery was also reported to have caught fire following an August 1 attack. The industrial zone was targeted in further reported attacks in late June and early July.

The Novo-Aleksandrovka gas distribution station is also located several kilometres from the industrial zone.

09:27

Residents of the Russian city of Ufa reported hearing explosions early in the morning of September 21, prompting heightened security measures and temporary restrictions on air traffic at the city’s airport.

According to eyewitness accounts, explosions were heard in the northern part of Ufa. The circumstances surrounding the reported blasts remain unclear, and there has been no official confirmation of what caused them, Russian media reports.

At around 7 a.m. local time, restrictions were imposed on aircraft arrivals and departures at Ufa Airport, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, said.

Meanwhile, a missile alert was declared in neighbouring Tatarstan at approximately 6 a.m. local time, according to Radmir Belyaev, the mayor of Nizhnekamsk.

The missile alert was lifted about 90 minutes later. A separate drone alert was also issued in the region.

09:22

Attack drones belonging to Ukraine’s Defence Forces reportedly struck the Russian city of Ufa, according to Exilenova+.

The report did not provide details on the location of the reported strike, the targets involved, or whether there were casualties or damage.