• The governor of Astrakhan reassures residents after a gas cloud enveloped the city following a drone strike.
• Governor Igor Babushkin explains the gas smell resulted from restarting operations at the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant.
• Public response includes sarcastic comments about the reassurances given by the governor.

Governor Igor Babushkin of Russia's Astrakhan region urged residents not to panic on Wednesday after a prominent gas chemical facility near the city was targeted in a suspected Ukrainian drone attack. The incident, which occurred this week, resulted in a noticeable cloud of natural gas hovering over the city of Astrakhan, home to approximately 475,000 residents. Babushkin reassured the public via Telegram, stating that the gas odor was due to efforts to restart production at the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant. He emphasized that the "specific smell" commonly appears after processing, adding that specialists are actively working to restore operations which includes the necessary procedure of flare-burning. "I want to warn the residents of Astrakhan, in the coming days before the plant returns to its scheduled operating mode, such situations are possible. Do not panic!" Babushkin said, addressing the community’s concerns regarding air quality following complaints about the smell and potential health risks. While he acknowledged some residents experienced breathing discomfort, he maintained that natural gas is not harmful in open spaces and assured that atmospheric conditions would stabilize shortly. Despite the official reassurances, public sentiment on social media reflected skepticism, with users making sarcastic remarks about the claims of safety. Comments such as, “You see – natural gas isn’t dangerous. Breathe in deeply,” highlighted the growing concerns among residents regarding the assurances provided. As they cope with the aftermath of the drone strike, which damaged one of the world’s largest gas chemical complexes, many individuals are left questioning the implications of such incidents on local health and safety. Sources suggest that motor fuel production at the Astrakhan facility may face significant delays, likely lasting for several months due to the impact of the strike. The facility is crucial for processing substantial volumes of gas and producing a variety of fuels, marking this incident as a significant blow to Russian energy capabilities. The continuance of drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian military and energy infrastructure exemplifies the ongoing conflict, as they aim to disrupt operations behind enemy lines. For further details about the incident, please refer to the full reports by SCMP, Reuters, and Newsweek.