The Ukrainian Armed Forces have struck a Russian petrochemical facility in Tobolsk, Western Siberia, for the first time. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has confirmed the strike on the central gas fractionation unit at the Tobolskneftekhim complex. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the distance to the target exceeded 2,500 kilometres and announced further long-range operations.
Briefly about the main points
- The General Staff has confirmed that the Tobolskneftekhim facility has been hit.
- Ukraine has struck a petrochemical facility in Tobolsk for the first time.
- The governor of Tyumen spoke about drones and a fire.
- The SSO identified the «ZapSibNeftekhim» complex as its target.
- Zelenskyy has announced an increase in the number of diplomatic strikes.
The General Staff has outlined the aims and objectives of the operation
Ukrainian units carried out a strike on 10 August as part of a campaign to undermine Russia’s military and economic capabilities. The military reported that the central gas fractionation unit at the petrochemical complex had been confirmed as having been hit.
According to the Ukrainian side, the plant has a capacity of around 6.6 million tonnes of raw materials per year. It is one of the key elements of the company’s production chain.
Statement by the Special Operations Forces and the Russian authorities’ response
The Special Operations Forces separately announced an operation against the «ZapSibNeftekhim» complex in Tobolsk. The facilities of «Tobolskneftekhim» were integrated into the production perimeter of this industrial cluster belonging to the company «Sibur».
The Associated Press reported that the Ukrainian General Staff had confirmed that part of the petrochemical complex had been damaged. The governor of the Tyumen Oblast Alexander Moor acknowledged the drone attack and the fire at an industrial site, without specifying its name.
What products does the Tobolsk complex manufacture?
«ZapSibNeftekhim» produces polyethylene, polypropylene and other petrochemical products. The Ukrainian military claims that the complex’s products are also used by the Russian military-industrial complex.
The AP, citing the General Staff, reported that the company produces components for rocket fuel, aviation fuel, composite materials for drones and high-octane petrol.
Zelenskyy has announced an expansion of long-range strikes
The President stated that Western Siberia is now within range of Ukrainian long-range weapons. In July, he reported that Ukrainian systems were capable of engaging targets at a distance of over three thousand kilometres. At the same time, Ukrainian Drones attacked a facility in Tyumen, located more than 2,400 kilometres from Ukraine, the AP reported.
Zelenskyy linked such operations to increased pressure on Moscow, aimed at forcing the Russian leadership to end the war. According to him, Russia has, for the first time, lost the ability to have a guaranteed secure strategic rear, and the number of Ukrainian precision strikes on its territory will increase.
