Fire breaks out at Russian gas plant after reported drone strike
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated as new details emerge.
A fire allegedly broke out at a Lukoil gas processing plant in Kotovo, Russia, following a reported drone attack overnight on Oct. 9.
The Telegram channel Astra, citing local residents in Russia's Volgograd region, reported the blaze at the Korobkovsky gas processing plant.
There has been no official confirmation of the reports. However, Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov earlier said that "fires at fuel and energy facilities" were being addressed after attacks in the region.
Local authorities have not released details about the extent of the damage.
The drone attack was confirmed by Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation. The official did not specify the origin of the drones.
"This facility is critical for Russia's oil and gas infrastructure: it provides processing and transportation of gas condensate, as well as the production of raw materials for the chemical industry," Kovalenko said.
Satellite images from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) confirmed a fire at the gas processing plant.
The Korobkovsky gas processing plant is the largest natural gas processor in Russia's Southern Federal District. The facility, which began operations in September 1966, plays a key role in the region's energy infrastructure.
