Deputy head of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, left, visits the Aleksinsky Experimental Mechanical Plant in Aleksin, Tula, Russia, in 2023, which was among areas targeted by an overnight Ukrainian military drone attack. Photo by Katerina Shtukina/Government Press Service/Pool/EPA-EFE
Ukraine used drones to strike the Aleksinsky chemical plant in Tula, Russia, late Friday and into early Saturday as part of a larger aerial offensive.
The chemical plant produces ammunition and gunpowder for the Russian military and produced orange smoke after at least 13 Ukrainian military drones struck the facility during the overnight hours, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent on Saturday. Advertisement
The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and SBU Security Service specifically targeted the gunpowder production facility, which is located about 120 miles south of Moscow.
The drone strikes caused alarms to sound at about 9:30 p.m. Friday and were part of a comprehensive military strike against multiple facilities in Russian territory that contribute to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Residents in the Tula area reported hearing explosions at 3 a.m. followed by another explosion at 1 p.m., which Ukrainian officials say was caused by chemicals catching fire at the Tula facility.
Other facilities targeted include weapons depots, military airfields and other enterprises that contribute to Russia’s military effort against Ukraine, which started in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Advertisement
The Russian Defense Ministry did not acknowledge a successful military strike in Tula by Ukraine but on Saturday said 50 Ukrainian military drones targeted seven regions in Russia.
Ukraine’s military drones are one-way attack aircraft, which sometimes are referred to as “suicide drones.”
The Russian military said it downed all 50 drones, including two in the Tula Oblast area.
The drone attacks occurred after Ukraine successfully targeted munitions facilities in Russia in October.
