VIDEO A drone traveled a record distance and hit a Gazprom refinery in Bashkiria, the Ukrainians announce

A Ukrainian drone hit a Russian refinery in the Republic of Bashkiria after traveling a record distance, Ukrainian sources told international news agencies.

An intelligence source in Kiev told Reuters that the drone struck an oil processing facility in Bashkiria (also known as the Republic of Bashkortostan) after flying a “record” distance of 1,500 kilometers.

The drone hit a catalytic cracking unit at the Gazprom Neftekhim oil processing, petrochemical and fertilizer complex in Salavat, the source said. Russia previously confirmed that the plant was damaged, but said it was operating normally.

Another defense source also told France Presse that the drone traveled a record distance, but said it was 1,200 kilometers. The long-range drone “paid a visit” to the republic of Bashkortostan, where it hit the Gazprom refinery in the town of Salavat, the France Presse source said.

A measurement made on Google Maps shows that the said refinery is at least 1,350 kilometers from the nearest border area with Ukraine that is under the control of Kiev forces.

Unverified images appearing online show an aircraft larger in size than the aerial drones most often used by Ukrainians.

It is possible that it is a light aircraft that has been modified by the Ukrainians to fly without a pilot, as has happened in other airstrikes carried out deep into Russian territory. One example is the attack at the beginning of last month, when factories were hit in Tatarstan, more than 1,100 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.