Ukraine’s “furious” drones hit Russia’s tire rubber supply chain 1,300+ km away

Ukrainian Liutyi strike drones hit a petrochemical plant in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, Russia, on the morning of 15 April, Exilenova+ Telegram channel reported, publishing video of the attack. The strike reached more than 1,300 km from the war zone, as thick black smoke rose over the city, and locals filmed drones flying past their windows before the explosions.

Strike on Sterlitamak

Militarnyi noted that according to currently available data, the drones likely struck the JSC Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant — a Roskhim holding facility. The plant produces synthetic rubbers — butadiene-styrene and isoprene types — used in Russia's tire industry and in the manufacture of rubber goods, as well as latexes, resins, and other petrochemical products.

Russia declared a drone threat in Bashkortostan after 7 a.m. Russian air defense protecting the Sterlitamak industrial zone attempted to intercept the drones but apparently failed, Militarnyi said.

Local residents posted videos showing Liutyi drones flying over residential buildings before reporting further explosions. Eyewitnesses described dense black smoke rising from the fire.

The same petrochemical plant in Sterlitamak was previously struck in November 2025. On that occasion, Bashkortostan's regional head claimed that air defense intercepted the drones but acknowledged that debris had landed in the industrial area.

Two recent strikes preceded the Sterlitamak attack. On 13 April, Ukrainian drones struck a chemical complex in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, setting fires in two of the facility's three ammonia workshops with a combined annual capacity of 900,000 tons. On 11 April, drones struck the Krymskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai again, setting it on fire.