Ukrainian drones hit rare Russian refinery making key missile component
Photo: Ukrainian drones attacked a rare refinery in Russia (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) drones have attacked a rare refinery in Russia's Orenburg. This enterprise is the only one in Russia that produces helium for missiles, RBC-Ukraine's sources report.
In particular, according to the sources, on August 11, HUR drones struck the Orenburg helium refinery.
Local residents could see the drones flying overhead and also reported a series of explosions in the area of the refinery. Around 8:00 p.m. local time, the authorities blocked a section of the federal M-5 Ural highway near the settlements of Perevolotskoye and Kholodnye Klyuchi. That is where the Defense Intelligence's target is located.
The Orenburg helium refinery is the only helium production enterprise in Russia and one of the largest in Europe. The plant's annual capacity allows for processing about 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
Helium is widely used in missile manufacturing, the space industry, and aviation. It is a critical component required to create pressure in fuel tanks, ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fuel to missile engines.
The target struck by military intelligence is directly involved in Russia's aggression against Ukraine and is one of the key facilities of the Russian military-industrial complex.
Photo: HUR drones hit refinery in Orenburg (RBC-Ukraine's sources)
Ukrainian drone strikes
Earlier, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) drones attacked a storage terminal for Shahed UAVs in Tatarstan. The drones struck a logistics hub where Shahed UAVs ready for use were stored, along with foreign components for them.
Also, on the night of August 10, the Defense Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery. Explosions and a fire were recorded on the plant's territory.
In addition, on the night of August 11, long-range SBU drones hit a Russian plant that produces parts for Kh-32 and Kh-101 missiles.
