March 31, 2026, 4:41 p.mMarch 31, 2026, 4:41 p.m
A powerful explosion rocked a Russian chemical plant in the Republic of Tatarstan. According to the company in Nizhnekamsk, two people were killed and more than 70 were injured.
The cause was given as technical failure. However, operations at the airport had been restricted shortly beforehand, according to a statement from the Rosawiazija supervisory authority. This usually means that Ukrainian drones are detected in the air.
In the Republic of Tatarstan, explosions have occurred at one of Russia’s largest petrochemical complexes – “Nizhnekamskneftekhim”. It is reported that one of the facility’s units is on fire following a likely drone attack. pic.twitter.com/RuiEc4XCGV
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 31, 2026
Black column of smoke over the city
The explosion triggered a fire from which a column of black smoke rose, visible from afar, over the city with 240,000 inhabitants. The pressure wave caused windows in several residential buildings to burst, Mayor Radmir Belyayev told the state news agency Tass. Unauthenticated videos on social networks showed Russian anti-aircraft defense attempts in the region.
VIDEO : ON March 31, 2026, showing a large explosion and intense fire at Nizhnekamskneftekhim (also known as NKNH), Russia’s major petrochemical complex in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan Republic. The post simply notes: “Meanwhile in Russia’s Nizhnekamsk.”#russia #ukrainian pic.twitter.com/vW4dEHVHu7
— Reality Index (@Reality_Index) March 31, 2026
Nizhnekamsk is more than 1,200 kilometers from Ukraine as the crow flies and is a center of the Russian oil and chemical industry. Moscow has also set up drone production in the Republic of Tatarstan. In its defensive battle against Russia, Ukraine is trying to eliminate its opponent’s military and industrial targets with long-range drones. (sda/dpa)