A massive blaze broke out Saturday at the Omsky Kauchuk petrochemical plant in the industrial hub of Omsk following a strike by Ukrainian drones. Geolocation analysis suggests the attack hit the facility’s D-5 and D-3 units, the latter of which is used for the production of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a chemical additive that increases the octane rating of gasoline.
Regional governor Vitaly Khotsenko confirmed that drones reached the northern industrial zone, though he did not provide an assessment of the damage. Located more than 2,500 km from the Ukrainian border, the plant is a primary producer of synthetic rubber and isopropyl alcohol, with the latter having an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes. One estimate places the facility’s output at 25% of Russia’s domestic MTBE production.