Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Russian Oil Refinery in Bashkortostan, 1,300km from Border
Kyiv's deep-strike campaign continues with a significant hit on energy infrastructure, while Moscow responded with a large-scale drone attack across Ukraine.
The day on the war
Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack targeting the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refining and petrochemical complex in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan on the night of August 12 to 13, according to Ukrainian military officials. The strike, approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border, reportedly caused a fire at the facility, one of Russia's largest.
Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov stated that two civilians were wounded and a fire started in an industrial zone of Salavat. This deep-strike operation marks a continued effort by Kyiv to exert economic pressure on Moscow by targeting its vital oil sector. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously indicated that such strikes aim to demonstrate to Russia the necessity of peace.
Along the front
Pokrovsk
Development: Ukrainian forces repelled 26 Russian assaults near Nove Shakhove, Dorozhnie, Udachne, and Molodetske, among other areas.
Source: UA General Staff
Southern Slobozhansky
Development: Ukrainian units repelled nine enemy attacks, with invaders attempting to advance in the Starytsia area and towards Vilkhuvatka and Kolodyazne.
Source: UA General Staff
Kupiansk
Development: Russian troops conducted one attack in the direction of Novoplatonivka.
Source: UA General Staff
Sloviansk
Development: Russian forces carried out 21 assault operations near Riznykivka, Zakitne, and Kryva Luka, and towards Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Source: UA General Staff
Strikes & the grid
| Location | What | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine (multiple regions) | Russia launched 133 drones of various types overnight (August 12-13), with Ukrainian air defense forces destroying or jamming 111 UAVs. | Strikes recorded at 15 locations. |
| Odesa Oblast, Ukraine | A Russian jet drone struck a passenger train locomotive. | Two railway workers killed, 525 passengers evacuated. |
| Sevastopol, occupied Crimea | An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion. | Reportedly killed Russian Captain 1st Rank Robert Shageev. |
| Sumy Oblast, Ukraine | Mortar and drone attacks. | Seven people injured. |
Diplomacy & talks
Prisoner/Body Exchange. Russia and Ukraine exchanged the remains of 285 soldiers killed during the war on August 13. Ukraine received the bodies of 261 of its soldiers, while Russia received the remains of 24.
Peace Plan Development. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on August 12 that Kyiv and its international partners have developed a joint plan to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending the war. The details of this plan have not yet been provided to Washington.
Aid & sanctions
Finland
Measure: Financial backing for power plant project
Detail: Finland is backing a €28.5 million power plant project to help Ukraine add generation capacity as it prepares for potential Russian winter energy assaults.
Moldova
Measure: Rail cargo discount
Detail: Moldova has agreed to provide Ukraine with a 50% discount on rail cargo shipments until the end of the year, offering an alternative export route amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia later this month in an attempt to revive stalled peace talks.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to emphasize Ukraine's urgent need for US-produced Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes during the upcoming winter of 2026/2027.
- Monitoring for any further details or immediate responses following the Ukrainian drone strike on the Bashkortostan oil refinery.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.