The gas fields of Yamalia-Nenetsia, in northwest Siberia, within the Arctic Circle, are strategic for Russia’s economy. For the first time in the war, Ukrainian armed forces have attacked the region’s energy facilities with drones, located more than 3,000 kilometers from their border, and have hit an important energy complex. Alongside this action, alarms have also sounded in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, deep in Siberia.
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The farthest Ukrainian attack recorded so far took place on July 7 at another key plant: the Omsk refinery, about 2,500 kilometers from the origin of the projectiles. Kiev thus confirms that its bombing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure already reaches the main producing (and exporting) areas of the country.
The targeted objective was, according to Ukrainian media, the Novi Urengoy liquefied gas plant (the largest city in the Yamalia-Nenetsia province). According to their data, it is a gigantic facility that produces about 19.5 million tons annually.
The town’s mayor, Dmitry Artyukhov, confirmed the bombing without specifying, however, which infrastructure was the target of Kiev. “Today a drone attack against one of the city’s industrial facilities was repelled. The fall of debris caused a fire,” the mayor stated on his social media.
The bombing caused no casualties, according to the local administration. The City Council warned residents of the drone risk and threatened to take legal action against those who spread images of the attack.
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The Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point claimed the attack. “Guess who traveled more than 3,300 kilometers and successfully hit the target,” the company posted on the social network X. “Direct hits confirmed inside the facility. Damage assessment is underway.”
The other province attacked this Wednesday is Khanty-Mansi, which holds more than half of Russia’s oil reserves and produces more than 40% of the country’s crude oil.
It is unknown which facilities were bombed. According to some testimonies spread by the Russian press, this was the first time residents of the region had to take precautions due to a drone attack. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, suspended flights in the area for a few hours.
However, local authorities were preparing for the arrival of drone warfare from Ukraine. The region’s Department of Social Development recently proposed including the consequences of these bombings in its list of “extreme necessity situations” so that citizens can request food, clothing, and other basic goods from the state.
