Ukrainian drones attacked the Dorogobuzh chemical plant in Smolensk Oblast early on Wednesday, Feb. 25, triggering a massive fire visible from several kilometers away, according to multiple monitoring channels, including Exilenova+.
Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin confirmed the attack, saying that 4 people were killed and 10 injured.
“Last night, Smolensk Oblast came under a massive attack by Ukrainian drones,” Anokhin wrote.
Dorogobuzh, owned by Russia’s Acron Group, produces nitrogen fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate, which is also used to produce industrial-grade explosives.
The plant was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones in December 2025, when a fire broke out but there were no casualties.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 69 aircraft-type drones overnight. The majority – 24 – were shot down over Bryansk Oblast, and 14 over Smolensk.
The strike follows a Feb. 17 Ukrainian drone attack on Metafrax Chemicals in Perm Krai, one of Russia’s largest chemical plants.
The facility manufactures methanol, hexamine, urea and pentaerythritol – chemical components used in the production of explosives and other military-grade materials.
After 2024, Metafrax came under Russian state control and is currently under Western sanctions.
Due to its role in supplying Russia’s defense-industrial complex, it is considered part of the country’s military-industrial infrastructure.
The facility is located more than 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) from the Ukrainian border.