Ukraine Strikes Major Russian Gas Plant in Orenburg Region

Drone Attack Targets Key Russian Energy Infrastructure

On the night of October 18-19, 2025, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant in Russia's southern Orenburg Oblast, near the Kazakh border. The strike resulted in a fire and caused significant disruption, leading to the temporary suspension of gas intake from Kazakhstan, according to reports from both Russian and Kazakh authorities. This incident marks a continuation of Ukraine's strategy to target Russian energy facilities.

Details of the Strike and Immediate Aftermath

The Ukrainian military's General Staff confirmed the strike, stating that explosions and a large-scale fire erupted at the plant. Preliminary information indicates that one of the gas processing and purification units was damaged. Orenburg Governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported that a fire broke out within a workshop of the facility, causing partial damage, though no casualties were reported among workers. The fire was later extinguished, according to Russian media outlets citing the plant's operator. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drones also struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, further highlighting the coordinated nature of these attacks.

Significance of the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant

The targeted facility, operated by Russia's state-owned Gazprom, is a critical component of the country's energy infrastructure. It is described as one of the largest gas processing complexes in the world, with an annual capacity to process up to 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 6.2 million tonnes of gas condensate or oil. The plant plays a crucial role in handling gas condensate from Kazakhstan's Karachaganak field, as well as from Orenburg's own oil and gas fields.

Impact on Gas Supply and Broader Context

Following the drone attack, the Orenburg plant was forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry confirmed this suspension, citing an 'emergency situation following a drone attack.' However, the ministry later stated that the suspension had no effect on gas exports to Kazakhstan, as reserve mechanisms and alternative supplies from Gazprom were in place to ensure uninterrupted domestic gas supply. This strike is part of an intensified campaign by Kyiv against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, which Ukraine views as a key source of revenue funding Moscow's ongoing military actions.