Photo: Astra/Telegram
Residents of Sterlitamak in Russia’s Bashkortostan region reported explosions and smoke on the morning of October 29. Monitoring channels warned of a drone attack threat at around 5 a.m. About an hour later, local authorities officially reported an attack and said takeoffs and landings had been restricted at Ufa airport.
After analyzing photographs from Sterlitamak, OSINT analysts at ASTRA concluded that the smoke was coming from the area around Bashkir Soda Company.
Bashkir Soda Company is one of Russia’s largest chemical complexes and the country’s leading producer of soda ash and food-grade baking soda. Located in Sterlitamak, the company is part of the Roskhim chemical holding, which owns a controlling 57.43% stake.
According to ASTRA, Bashkir Soda Company was established in May 2013 through the merger of two major Soviet-era enterprises, Soda and Kaustik. The company is also included on a restricted list of defense enterprises maintained by Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Bashkir Soda Company supplies products to various industries, including the defense sector. It produces hydrochloric acid and dichloroethane and remains Russia’s only manufacturer of terephthaloyl chloride.
The chemical is used to manufacture high-strength synthetic fibers, polymers and aramid materials similar to Kevlar. These materials are used in modern body armor, helmets and protective components for military vehicles and aircraft.
Sterlitamak is approximately 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
