Drones strike major Russian gas processing plant 1,500 km from Ukraine
Drones attacked a major gas processing plant in Russia's Orenburg region (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Today, June 25, explosions were reported in Russia's Orenburg region. A local gas processing plant — one of the largest in Russia — may have come under attack, according to Exilenova+.
According to the channel, several fires were recorded on the plant's premises. Following the explosions in the industrial zone, satellites detected several hotspots, which, Exilenova+ noted, "confirms a successful operation."
Residents reported at least three strikes.
Orenburg Airport temporarily suspended arriving and departing flights. Similar restrictions were introduced in Orsk and Yasny, where air traffic was also halted for safety reasons.
Russian authorities claim that the region was subjected to a massive drone attack and accuse Ukraine of organizing it.
According to the local governor, several UAVs were allegedly shot down over an industrial facility in the regional center. No casualties have been reported. Emergency services are working at the scene.
Regional authorities have banned the publication of photos and videos involving drones.
As of now, Ukraine has not confirmed reports of an attack on facilities in Russia's Orenburg region.
What is known about the plant
The Orenburg Gas Processing Plant was built based on the Orenburg gas condensate field. Russians themselves describe it as the "largest gas chemical complex in the world."
The facility is located 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The plant is one of the key facilities in Russia's gas infrastructure. It carries out the industrial purification, preparation, and processing of natural gas, as well as helium production.
Gazprom, which owns the facility, states that it is the only producer of natural odorant in Russia — a substance that gives gas its characteristic smell.
The plant has a capacity of approximately 37.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Its main feedstock comes from the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field, one of the largest in Europe.
In addition, the facility participates in the international KazRosGaz project, under which gas from Kazakhstan's Karachaganak Field is processed.
Attacks on Gazprom's Orenburg plant
In May 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had carried out strikes against facilities belonging to Russia's gas industry in the Orenburg region.
In October last year, drones also attacked the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant in Russia.
At that time, a fire broke out at the facility, and Gazprom acknowledged an "emergency" and temporarily suspended the intake of raw gas from the Karachaganak field.
The following day, Russian media reported another fire on the plant's premises.
After that, the facility once again came under scrutiny due to possible operational problems.
