Giant Russian Gas Plant Suspends Intake After Ukrainian Drone Strike
A Ukrainian drone strike hit Russia’s massive Orenburg gas processing plant, forcing it to halt gas intake from Kazakhstan. The attack caused a fire but no casualties, marking a major escalation in Ukraine’s campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
Giant Russian Gas Plant Suspends Intake After Ukrainian Drone Strike
MOSCOW, Oct 19 — The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world’s largest of its kind, has halted gas intake from Kazakhstan following a Ukrainian drone strike, Kazakhstan’s energy ministry said on Sunday.
According to Orenburg regional governor Yevgeny Solntsev, the strike caused a fire at one of the workshops within the complex. The blaze was later extinguished, and no casualties were reported. Russian outlet Kommersant confirmed partial damage to the plant.
Ukraine’s military claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it also targeted an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. Kyiv has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months to disrupt fuel production and limit Moscow’s wartime funding.
The Orenburg facility, operated by Gazprom, processes about 45 billion cubic meters of gas annually, including condensate from Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field.
Kazakhstan’s energy ministry said it received an emergency notice from Gazprom but had yet to obtain details about the damage or a timeline for restoring full operations.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 12 over Samara, 11 over Saratov, and one over Orenburg. The Samara governor confirmed temporary disruptions to mobile internet and flights as a precaution.
The Orenburg attack marks a new escalation in Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign, directly hitting one of Russia’s most strategic energy assets.
