Russia, Usinsk: On August 6th, a fire broke out at a refinery owned and operated by Lukoil. The blaze quickly spread to one section of the plant.

The refinery is situated in Usinsk, a northern part of the Komi Republic, an oil-rich area extending north of the Arctic Circle.

Reports indicate that the fire was triggered by an explosion. Witnesses told Komi Novosti that the flames engulfed "major parts of the production facility."A video posted by the Telegram channel Syktyvkar01, captured from several kilometers away, depicts a massive plume of black smoke emerging from the location.

August 6, 2024

Lukoil has not released any official statements regarding the fire. However, company representatives informed KomiInform that the fire was a "minor outbreak" and was "quickly brought under control."

Neither the local government nor Mayor Nikolai Takaev, or regional fire and emergency services, have provided any updates on the situation.

This incident follows a similar event just two months prior, when another refinery in the region caught fire, resulting in two fatalities. The fire occurred at a reservoir in the Ukhta refinery.

Local media reports that residents are growing increasingly worried about the repeated fires. The oil processing industry is crucial for this northern Russian region, and there is local debate about the possible causes of these incidents.

These fires occur against a backdrop of increased Ukrainian military activity, with Ukrainian forces reportedly targeting military and industrial sites across central Russia. In July, a Ukrainian drone allegedly damaged two strategic bombers at Olenya airfield on the Kola Peninsula.