KYIV — Ukraine attacked two plants in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, overnight on Nov. 15, and a third defence-related site in Bryansk Oblast the same day, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The city of Nizhnekamsk is located more than 1,000 kilometres away from the Ukrainian border. It is one of the main petrochemical centres in Russia. The General Staff noted that the plants there are supplying the war with fuel and raw materials.
The first one is Nizhnekamskneftekhim PJSC. Explosions were reported, and a fire followed at the complex, according to the post.
Nizhnekamskneftekhim is part of the SIBUR holding and is known as one of the biggest petrochemical complexes in Europe. It manufactures synthetic rubbers, synthetic polyisoprene, butyl rubbers, and plastics. The sales of its synthetic rubbers alone account for tens of billions of roubles per year.
Rubber looks like a purely civil chemical. But for military purposes, it is not. Synthetic rubber is used for tyres for military trucks, armoured vehicles and aircraft, and for seals, hoses and other rubber parts of equipment, according to the General Staff. Some types of synthetic rubber are also used as a binder in solid rocket propellant, including for Iskander ballistic missiles.
The second one is the TAIF-NK oil refinery. According to the General Staff, the strike hit the only ELOU-AVT-7 unit, the primary crude processing unit for electric desalting and atmospheric-vacuum distillation.
TAIF-NK processes heavy and high-sulphur crude oil and gas condensate at a depth of more than 95%. It supplies mass-market fuel, petrochemical feedstock and military needs, according to the post. A fire was recorded at the plant.
How badly either plant was damaged is still being clarified, the General Staff said.
Mayor reports injuries in Nizhnekamsk
A massive Ukrainian drone attack targeted Nizhnekamsk overnight, the city’s mayor, Radmir Belyaev, said, according to TASS. Several people were injured and industrial facilities were damaged, he said.
“The attack damaged industrial facilities. Prompt and coordinated evacuation efforts helped prevent fatalities. An apartment building was also damaged, and all residents were promptly evacuated. Unfortunately, there are people injured. Doctors are providing them with all necessary medical care,” Belyaev said on the Max messenger, TASS reported.
Emergency and response teams are working at the sites, the mayor said. Tatenergo, the regional energy company, temporarily suspended hot water supplies until 5:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday to ensure safe heating services, he added.
Helicopter plant in Bryansk Oblast
The third site was Monolit JSC in Trubchevsk, Bryansk Oblast. The enterprise builds aircraft, including helicopters, and also makes spare parts and components and does metalworking, according to the post.
The General Staff linked the three strikes to what the plants supply. Shutting them down, it said, means fewer tyres for vehicles carrying ammunition to the front, fewer rubber parts for armoured vehicles and aircraft, less raw material for missiles and less fuel for the Russian army.
Ukraine said the operations were carried out in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The post said the Defence Forces will keep taking systematic steps to weaken Russia’s military and economic potential and press it to end its armed aggression against Ukraine.