Ukraine says it launched drone attack on Russian chemical plant

() – Ukraine launched a drone attack against a Russian chemical plant in the western city of Tula overnight between Friday and Saturday, according to the country’s security service (SBU). Russian authorities have not acknowledged the attack.

According to the SBU, the Aleksinsky chemical plant was hit by at least 13 Ukrainian drones, resulting in explosions and a cloud of smoke following the attack. The staff was evacuated.

The main target, the gunpowder production workshop, was emitting orange smoke due to the release of acids, the SBU said. A source also confirmed damage to the Aleksinskaya thermal power plant, saying a 110 kV power transmission line was damaged.

Social media images verified by show the attack on the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which is located about 120 miles (200 km) south of Moscow, launched by Ukraine’s SBU Security Service and Special Operations Forces.

The plant produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian armed forces, according to the SBU. The attack triggered air raid alarms in several regions of Russia from around 9:30 p.m. local time, he added.

The security service is carrying out a “comprehensive operation” against facilities on Russian territory that are involved in the war in Ukraine, an SBU 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 a drone attack from Ukraine was thwarted by Russia overnight, but did not mention the chemical plant, in a statement released Saturday.

Miliayev said that an “enemy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack was thwarted by air defense units of the Russian Defense Ministry in the Tula region overnight.”

The governor added that the fallen parts damaged the windows of a private house and there were no victims. “The situation is under control,” he added.

The Russian Defense Ministry said: “Over the past night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using aircraft-type UAVs against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation was foiled.”