Ukrainian drones strike two chemical plants in the Urals — 1,500 km from the border

On Friday, Ukrainian long-range drones struck two chemical plants in Russia's Perm region, located 1,500 and 1,700 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The strikes were reported by the Ukrainian outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

One of the strikes hit a plant belonging to Uralchem in the city of Berezniki — Russia's largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers and the sole supplier of a number of chemical products, including higher aliphatic amines, sodium nitrate and crystalline sodium nitrite. The plant also produces ammonia, urea and ammonium nitrate — substances used in the manufacture of explosives.

What exactly the drones hit

According to analysts, the drones struck a water treatment unit on the plant's grounds that supplies demineralized water to steam reformers and boiler equipment used in ammonia production. This unit is critical to the entire production cycle: without it, the ammonia units cannot function. A successful hit could therefore bring the plant's operations to a complete halt.

The second strike hit a chemical plant belonging to Metafraks Chemicals in the city of Gubakha. This facility also supplies Russia's defense industry with substances needed for explosives production. The exact target and the consequences of the strike on this facility remain unknown for now.

Authorities' response

Perm region Governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed Friday's drone attack but did not name the specific industrial facilities affected. Russia's Defense Ministry, for its part, only reported shooting down Ukrainian drones over the region, without providing details on any hits.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz