Ukraine launched fresh long-range drone attacks inside Russia, targeting a major chemical and fertilizer plant in the Tula region and a fuel storage facility in the Yaroslavl region, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The strikes marked the latest in a series of Ukrainian operations deep inside Russian territory.
Zelenskyy said the Azot chemical plant in the Tula region was among the targets. According to him, the facility plays an important role in supporting Russia’s explosives production capabilities.
Chemical Plant Hit in Tula Region
The Azot plant is located in Novomoskovsk, a city around 200 kilometers south of Moscow and roughly 660 kilometers northeast of Kyiv. Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed that drone debris fell on the grounds of an industrial facility in Novomoskovsk. He said authorities were assessing the extent of the damage caused by the incident.
Fuel Storage Facility Catches Fire
In another attack, Ukrainian drones struck fuel storage facilities in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, located northeast of Moscow. Regional Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said the strike triggered a fire at the site. The affected facilities belong to Russia’s State Reserves Agency, which manages strategic reserves.
The Yaroslavl region lies about 1,000 kilometers northeast of Kyiv. Images shared on social media showed a large plume of smoke rising into the sky after the attack.
The disruption also affected transportation. Several airports temporarily imposed flight restrictions, while road traffic between Yaroslavl and Moscow faced interruptions, according to Russian state media reports.
Casualties Reported in Oryol Region
Separately, officials reported a deadly drone strike in Russia’s Oryol region. Regional Governor Andrey Klychkov said a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building, killing one person and injuring eight others.
The Oryol region is located in western Russia, near the border with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Defends Attacks
Zelenskyy said Ukraine carried out the strikes as a response to Russia’s continued military actions. Ukraine launched the attacks “in response to Russia’s refusal to end this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “We have offered the Russian leadership every possible format for negotiations – and the only response was continued aggression and attempts to expand it.”
His comments highlighted Kyiv’s position that Russia has failed to engage meaningfully in peace efforts despite repeated proposals for talks.
Russia and Ukraine Report Drone Activity
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions and over the Sea of Azov. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 98 drones overnight. Ukrainian forces said they shot down 91 of them before they reached their targets.
Earlier Strike Hits Southern Russian Port
The latest attacks came a day after another Ukrainian drone operation targeted southern Russia. On Saturday, debris from a Ukrainian drone reportedly sparked a fire at the Temryuk seaport in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
The incident added to a growing number of Ukrainian strikes aimed at military, industrial and energy-related facilities inside Russia as the war continues to escalate far from the front lines.