Drones hit Bashkortostan chemical plant that supplies armour material; smoke rises over Sterlitamak as Moscow airports halt

In brief

• Drones reportedly struck the Bashkir Soda Company plant in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, on the morning of October 29, and smoke rose over the site.
• The plant is Russia's only domestic producer of terephthaloyl chloride, used in aramid body armour materials.
• On the same night, Moscow's mayor reported 613 drones heading toward the capital, and three Moscow airports had flight restrictions.

Smoke over the Bashkir Soda Company

Smoke began to rise above the Bashkir Soda Company (BSC) plant in Sterlitamak, Bashkortostan, after drones attacked the site on the morning of October 29 (Drones target one of Russia’s largest chemical complexes in Bashkortostan, media report – Ukrinform) (Украина атаковала центр нефтехимической промышленности в российском Стерлитамаке – Charter 97) (Дрони атакували в Росії великий хімзавод, який випускає сировину для бронежилетів, - ЗМІ – UNIAN) (В Башкортостане дроны атаковали химзавод, являющийся единственным в РФ производителем компонента для бронежилетов — OSINT-анализ – NV). Monitoring channels reported a drone threat around 5 a.m., and local authorities issued an official warning about an hour later (Дрони атакували Стерлітамак: біля хімзаводу, що працює на оборонку РФ, помітили дим – Українська правда). Residents of the city described explosions and at least two impacts.

OSINT analysts working with Astra examined photos from the city and concluded that the smoke was coming from the area of the plant. The enterprise ranks among Russia's largest chemical complexes and leads the country in output of soda ash and baking soda. It belongs to the Roskhim holding, which controls 57.43% of its shares. The company is also listed in the closed register of defence enterprises maintained by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade (РФ у вогні та вибухах: у Москві паніка через атаку дронів, а в Башкирії здіймається дим (фото, відео) – TSN).

The site is also the only domestic producer of terephthaloyl chloride, a compound used to make aramid materials for body armour, helmets and armoured equipment for vehicles and aircraft. Reports said the plant was attacked once before, in the summer. No information has been published on the extent of damage.

Airport restrictions in Ufa

The Ufa airport introduced temporary limits on taking off and landing aircraft during the morning alert.

Moscow drone attack

Overnight into October 29, Moscow and the surrounding region came under a large drone attack. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 613 drones were flying toward the capital from the evening, most of which air defences reportedly intercepted at long range, with more than 230 downed near the city. No casualties or destruction had been reported, and emergency services were working at debris fall sites, according to the mayor.

Rosaviatsia announced temporary restrictions on takeoffs and landings at Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports, and the three airports were disrupted.