A Ukrainian drone strike on a fertiliser plant in Russia’s Smolensk region killed seven people and wounded 10, officials said Wednesday. The plant, located just outside Dorogobuzh and about 290 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, suffered significant damage from the attack, which involved at least 30 drones armed with explosives. Social media images showed flames and columns of smoke rising from the facility early Wednesday.
Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin confirmed the attack on PJSC Dorogobuzh, a civilian nitrogen fertiliser plant. The Russian Investigative Committee called the strike one of the deadliest attacks on Russian industrial infrastructure during the four-year war. Rescuers contained the fires by Wednesday morning, while authorities considered evacuating nearby residents for safety.
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The facility had also been targeted in December 2025, according to Russian media reports. Ukrainian authorities, which deny targeting civilians, did not immediately comment on Wednesday’s attack. The strikes are part of a broader pattern, with Ukraine firing thousands of drones into Russia since Moscow’s offensive began in 2022.
Ukraine typically targets industrial and energy infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, claiming the strikes retaliate against Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. The drone campaigns have caused billions of dollars in damage and disrupted Russian industrial operations far from the front lines.
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Officials warned that regional security remains tense, with both sides continuing long-range drone and missile operations. The Smolensk attack highlights the war’s expanding impact on civilian and industrial areas, raising concerns about potential escalation and safety for nearby communities.