Anna Hartz
Over the past year, Ukraine has increasingly targeted oil depots, factories, and industrial sites far from the front line.
Long-range drone attacks have become a major part of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Kyiv says these strikes are meant to weaken Russia’s military supply system and reduce its ability to continue the war.
1,700 km from Ukraine
Ukrainian drones struck several important sites inside Russia overnight on May 23, reports the Kyiv Independent. The attacks targeted industrial and energy facilities located hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Security Service of Ukraine carried out a strike on the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Perm Krai. The facility is located around 1,700 kilometers from Ukraine.
Zelensky described the factory as an important part of Russia’s military industry. He said the company supplies materials used for aviation equipment, drones, missile engines, and explosives.
According to Zelensky, production at the plant stopped after the attack. Russian officials claimed air defenses shot down several drones before they reached the area. Authorities also said there were no deaths or injuries reported at the site.
Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels reported that the attack focused on the AKM chemical complex in the city of Gubakha. The plant produces large amounts of ammonia, urea, and melamine every day. It was also targeted earlier this year when another drone strike caused a fire in February.
Another oil terminal hit
In southern Russia, another Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at the Grushovaya oil terminal in Novorossiysk. The terminal is part of one of Russia’s major oil export systems and is connected to pipelines operated by the state company Transneft.
Local Russian officials said drone debris fell on the site and caused fires in several technical and administrative buildings. Two people were reportedly injured during the attack.
Videos and photos shared online appeared to show smoke and flames rising from the terminal overnight. Russian authorities did not release many details about the damage.
The Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk has been targeted several times before. Similar attacks were reported in April and March this year.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that Russian energy facilities are legitimate military targets because they help finance and support Moscow’s war effort. Ukrainian officials also believe long-range strikes create pressure far from the battlefield.
Just days earlier, Ukraine also attacked an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. Zelensky said those operations would continue as part of Ukraine’s strategy to damage Russia’s oil and industrial sectors.
