A massive explosion at a Russian oil refinery in Ufa has raised suspicions of a Ukrainian attack, coinciding with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s return from a diplomatic tour.
The fire erupted at the Ufimsky fuel facility on Sunday night, sending flames high above the city.
Ufa, located near the Ural Mountains, is about 1,165 kilometers east of Moscow.
The refinery, operated by Bashneft, processes up to 168,000 barrels of oil daily.
Russian authorities attributed the fire to technical issues, but reports from local media suggest it may have been caused by a drone strike.
Video footage shared online shows an explosion just before the facility was engulfed in flames.
Ukraine has not officially taken responsibility for the attack, but it has previously targeted Russian refineries to weaken the country’s war efforts.
The Ufa refinery had installed anti-drone nets last year to guard against such strikes.
If Ukraine was behind the attack, it would demonstrate its ability to strike deep into Russian territory, far from the battlefield.
The explosion happened shortly after Zelensky returned from his international trip, where he met world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
During his visit, Trump suggested that the US might step back from supporting Ukraine, urging the country to negotiate peace with Russia.
Zelensky, however, continued to push for security assurances from allies, stressing the need for long-term peace.
Meanwhile, Russia launched ballistic missiles on Sunday, targeting a container ship in Odesa that was allegedly carrying weapons for Ukraine.