Ukraine launched a drone attack against a Russian chemical facility in the western city of Tula overnight from Friday to Saturday (9), according to the Ukrainian security service. Russian authorities have not yet acknowledged the attack.
According to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine), the Aleksinsky chemical plant was hit by at least , resulting in explosions and clouds of smoke following the attack. Employees were removed from the site.
The main target, the gunpowder production factory, was emitting orange smoke due to leaking acids, the SBU said. A source also confirmed damage to the Aleksinskaya thermal power plant, saying a 110 kV power transmission line was damaged.
Images from social networks, verified by CNNshow the attack on the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which is about 200 km south of Moscow, launched by the Security Service and Special Operations Forces of the SBU of Ukraine.
The facility produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian army, according to the SBU. The attack triggered air raid alarms in several regions of Russia from 9:30 p.m. local time, the security service said.
The SBU is carrying out a “comprehensive operation” against facilities on Russian territory involved in the war in Ukraine, a security service source said.
“The destruction of weapons depots, military airfields and companies that are part of the Russian military industry reduces Russia’s ability to terrorize our country,” the source added.
The governor of the Tula region, Dmitriy Miliayev, said an overnight drone attack from Ukraine was thwarted by , but did not mention the chemical plant, in a statement on Saturday.
Miliayev said an “enemy drone attack was thwarted by Russian Defense Ministry air defense units in the Tula region overnight.”
The governor added that the falling debris damaged the glass of a private house and there were no casualties.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated: “Overnight last night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using drones against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted.”
