MOSCOW, May 9 (Reuters) -

Russia's Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil processing,

petrochemical and fertiliser complex located in the Bashkiria

region was attacked by a drone but is functioning as usual,

Radiy Khabirov, the region's head, said on his Telegram channel

on Thursday.

The state RIA news agency, citing emergency services,

said the drone attack had damaged a pumping station building at

the plant, one of Russia's largest, but that nobody had been

injured.

Ukraine has stepped up its drone attacks oil processing

facilities in Russia since the start of the year. Moscow says

the attacks amount to terrorism and has launched what it said

are revenge strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure in

response.

Ukraine says the oil facilities are legitimate targets

which aid Russia's military effort.

Earlier on Thursday, a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a

fire and damaged several storage tanks at a

fuel depot

in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, according to local

officials.