What happened

A major fire broke out in an auxiliary process area of the pyrolysis unit at the under-construction Amur Gas Chemical Complex near Svobodny. Equipment undergoing commissioning was shut down, personnel not involved in the response were evacuated, and residual process gases were allowed to burn under controlled conditions after crews localized the fire. By 14:00 local time on 26 August, Russia's regional Emergencies Ministry said the fire had been extinguished and confirmed seven deaths — six Chinese nationals and one Russian national. Contemporary reports gave changing injury totals of 146 to 152 and said nine Chinese contractor personnel remained missing; those figures are retained as a range rather than merged. The operator said the main plant equipment was not damaged, and air monitoring found no exceedance at nearby residential areas. No reviewed official, Ukrainian or independent source reported a drone strike. The cause remained under investigation as an alleged industrial-safety failure. CIA Director John Ratcliffe was visiting Moscow on 25 August, but the timing supplies no evidence connecting his visit to this fire.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.