A Russian oil refinery in the northwestern Komi Republic caught fire on June 2, leading to casualties, the Komi Republic’s Investigative Committee said.
The committee said there were both injured and dead in the incident but didn't disclose further details.
The incident is just the latest in the series of fires that have occurred at Russian oil infrastructure over the past months. They have been reported amid Ukraine's drone campaign targeting oil facilities across Russia aimed at undermining a major source of funding for Russia's war machine.
The oil refinery belongs to Russia's second-largest oil company, Lukoil. It is located four kilometers away from the city of Ukhta, according to the head of the Komi Republic, Vladimir Uiba.
Uiba said in a Telegram post that the fire was caused by "non-compliance with safety regulations" and not by a Ukrainian drone attack.
The Komi Republic’s Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case into the incident.
The regional branch of the Ministry of Emergency Situations said that 74 people and 22 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire.
As of about 2 p.m. Kyiv time, the ministry said in a Telegram post that three employees were injured.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.
Igor Kossov
The Kyiv Independent doesn’t depend on a wealthy owner or an oligarch — in 2023, 80% of our revenue was from reader contributions. It’s thanks to them that we don’t have to rely on a single owner.
Support us now and help maintain our independent model and keep our articles free for everyone. Your contributions allow us to cover journalists’ salaries, report from the front lines, and fund projects like our War Crimes Investigations Unit.
(Updated: )
