Explosions Rock Neftegorsk Gas Hub as Russia Scrambles to Hide Footage of Burning Infrastructure

Strike drones targeted the Neftegorsk Gas Processing Plant in Russia’s Samara region overnight on February 21, causing a fire at the facility, according to regional authorities and footage circulating on social media.

Samara region governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed the strike, stating: “Today at night, the enemy [Ukraine] struck two industrial sites in the region.” He later said there were no reported casualties and that emergency services were working at the scene. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the attack.

The governor also reminded residents of the prohibition on publishing photos and videos of drones and the consequences of their use.

The attack occurred during an announced drone alert in the region. Videos shared online showed flames and a bright glow above the industrial site in Neftegorsk following several explosions. Russian authorities have not provided a detailed assessment of the damage.

The Neftegorsk Gas Processing Plant specializes in processing associated petroleum gas from oil fields in the Volga region, primarily assets linked to Samaraneftegaz. Its projected capacity is approximately 0.7–0.75 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Together with the Otradnensky Gas Processing Plant, it forms part of Rosneft’s Samara gas processing cluster, with a combined annual capacity exceeding 1.5 billion cubic meters.

Unconfirmed reports from local Telegram channels suggested that several storage tanks may have caught fire, with some sources claiming that up to five reservoirs were burning. These reports have not been independently verified.

Earlier on February 21, Ukrainian-made Flamingo cruise missiles reportedly struck the Votkinsk Plant in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, a key producer of Iskander and strategic ballistic missiles, with OSINT analysts citing geolocated footage of damaged workshops and Russian authorities confirming an overnight attack.

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