Ukrainian drones set Russian chemical plant and airbase on fire as Moscow reports mass drone threat
Ukrainian drones caused major fires at the Bashkir Soda Company in Bashkortostan and at Marinovka Airbase in Volgograd Oblast, while Moscow’s mayor reported hundreds of drones heading toward the capital region. The strikes and reported threats point to an expanding campaign against Russian rear areas and occupied Luhansk.
Ukrainian drones have hit targets deep in Russian territory and in occupied eastern Ukraine, igniting large fires at an industrial plant in Bashkortostan and at an airbase in Volgograd Oblast, while Moscow officials reported a massive overnight drone threat toward the capital region.
In Sterlitamak, a city in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, Ukrainian long‑range drones attacked the Bashkir Soda Company on the morning of 29 October, according to Ukrainian‑linked reporting. The strike triggered a large fire that was continuing to grow. The Bashkir Soda Company produces sodium carbonate and food‑grade soda, used by enterprises affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defence to make components, including for defense production. A separate Ukrainian account said the company supplies products to Russia’s defense‑industrial complex.
Further southwest, data from NASA’s FIRMS satellite fire‑detection system indicated a large fire burning at Marinovka Airbase in Volgograd Oblast following overnight Ukrainian mid‑range drone strikes. Marinovka hosts Su‑24 and Su‑34 aircraft and has previously been hit by Ukrainian drones, which earlier damaged and destroyed four Su‑34s.
Russian officials also described an unusually large drone threat around Moscow. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 613 drones were reportedly heading toward the Moscow region from the evening of 28 October through the morning of 29 October. He said the overnight attacks did not pass without consequences, without giving full detail. Reports referred to a strike in the Luhansk region and smoke in Sterlitamak, where residents reported hearing explosions. The number of drones Sobyanin cited has not been independently verified.
Ukraine continued what was described as a large‑scale mid‑range drone strike campaign against Luhansk Oblast the same night. Multiple unknown targets were struck in central Luhansk City, including areas near Hospital No. 7 and a parking lot near the central market, as well as in the southern suburbs. Power outages were reported across almost all of southern Luhansk.
These incidents highlight Ukrainian efforts to hit industrial facilities linked to Russia’s defense supply chain, such as the Bashkir Soda Company, and airbases such as Marinovka that host strike aircraft. They also show Ukraine’s continued use of drones against occupied territory in Luhansk.
Key developments to watch include satellite or commercial imagery showing damage at the Bashkir Soda Company and Marinovka Airbase, Russian decisions on aircraft basing at exposed airfields, and any visible shifts in Ukrainian targeting of Russian industrial and logistical sites.
Sources
- OSINT