A fire broke out at an oil refinery in northwestern Russia on Sunday, resulting in deaths and injuries, local authorities said.
The regional governor said the fire was not caused by a Ukrainian drone strike and investigators opened a criminal case on suspicion of negligence.
The fire near the city of Ukhta in northwest Russia’s Komi Republic left at least three people injured, the Komi Emergencies Ministry said. Regional investigators said the fire also caused deaths, but did not specify how many. They did not say whether the fire had already been extinguished.
“Today a fire broke out at an oil refinery in the city of Ukhta during scheduled technical work by a contractor, resulting in deaths and injuries,” the investigation department wrote in Telegram.
Investigators opened a criminal case into possible negligence at the oil refinery.
Regional governor Vladimir Uyba said the fire was not related to a drone attack. In recent months, Russian oil refineries and terminals have become priority targets of Ukrainian drone strikes, part of the intensified robberies on Russian territory.
Local authorities have not specified which company owns the refinery, but images published by the local emergencies ministry show the logo of oil giant Lukoil.
