Russia burning as devastating Ukrainian strike behind enemy lines causes 600ft fireball

A massive fire has broken out again at a major gas processing plant in Russia, after it was hit on Sunday in a Ukrainian airstrike. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, in a bid to damage the country's war economy, as well as disrupt fuel supplies to Putin's army.

Oil and gas depots around the country have been repeatedly struck by drone and missiles, causing extensive damage. In the latest devastating attack, Ukrainian drones struck the Orenburg gas processing plant. The facility is the largest of its kind in the world and is located at least 1000 kilometres from Ukraine's state border.

It is believed to be able to process between 40 to 45 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year. The gas plant was originally hit in the early hours of Sunday morning, causing a fire to break out, which was later extinguished by firefighters.

The regional governor Yevgeny Solntsev confirmed the plant had been hit, saying that some of the infrastructure had been partially damaged and that a workshop caught fire.

However, local residents reported on Monday that another huge blaze had broken out at the stricken plant.

Video images - geolocated by the independent Russian media channel Astra - show the complex engulfed in giant flames, reaching as high as 600 feet.

Kyrylo Shevchenko - a former head of Ukraine's National Bank - estimated the damage would cost the Russian economy billions of US dollars.

"Russia's war machine feels the burn!" he wrote on his X social media page.

"Potential losses: $5-10B+ in disrupted production/revenue (at ~$300/MCM gas prices), crippling exports & funding Putin's invasion."

Ukraine's military has previously targeted energy facilities in the region, and damaged the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in a drone attack earlier this month.

However, this is the first time the Gazprom gas plant has been hit.

The continual attacks on energy infrastructure have led to a shortage of fuel for cars, leading to huge queues at petrol stations, as well as a significant drop in oil exports

Russian oil product exports dropped by 17.1% in September compared to August, totalling 7.58 million tonnes, due to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Reuters.