Drones attacked the Subhankulovo substation in Bashkortostan – a fire broke out
This has been reported by ThePublic, citing the Exilenova+ channel.
Videos released by local residents show a large column of thick black smoke rising above the industrial site. The authors of the posts claim that the fire broke out following a drone attack.
Preliminary reports suggest the fire started in the station’s tank farm. The exact number of strikes, the extent of the fire and the list of damaged equipment are not yet known.
The Russian company Transneft has not reported whether the fire has been extinguished or whether the attack led to a halt in oil pumping. The Ukrainian military has not officially confirmed any involvement in the strike.
What is the Subhankulovo Linear Production and Dispatch Station?
The Subhankulovo Linear Production and Dispatch Station is located in the Tuimazinsky District of Bashkortostan. It forms part of the Tuimazinsky Oil Pipeline Administration of the company ‘Transneft – Ural’.
The station receives, stores and pumps oil via main pipelines. Routes linked to the supply of crude oil from Western Siberia and the oil fields of Bashkortostan pass through this hub.
In Transneft’s corporate materials, Subhankulovo is described as one of the key facilities of the Tuimazy Oil Pipeline Administration. According to the Energybase industry database, the oil terminal’s tank farm comprises 10 tanks with a total capacity of around 160,000 cubic metres.
The facility is connected to the Nizhnevartovsk–Kurgan–Kuibyshev and Ust-Balyk–Kurgan–Ufa–Almetyevsk main oil pipelines, as well as other regional routes.
Why damage to the terminal is significant for the Russian Federation
The pumping station is needed to maintain the required pressure in the pipelines, receive oil and regulate its onward transport. The storage tanks allow raw materials to be temporarily stored so that the system can continue to operate during fluctuations in supply volumes or whilst repairs are being carried out.
Damage to a single tank does not necessarily mean a complete shutdown of the entire facility. The station has several tanks and process lines, so some operations can be switched over to the undamaged equipment.
The consequences will depend on whether the pumps, power supply systems, automation systems and pipeline infrastructure have been affected. Without official information from Transneft, it is impossible to determine the actual impact of the attack on oil transportation.
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