Ukraine strikes major chemical plant in Perm Krai, oil infrastructure in Novorossiysk, Kyiv confirms

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Ukrainian drones struck energy and industrial facilities deep inside Russia overnight on May 23, targeting a chemical plant in Perm Krai and and oil infrastructure in the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk, according to Ukrainian and Russian authorities.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) had struck the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Perm Krai, located around 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

"I am grateful to the Security Service of Ukraine for hitting one of Russia's important military-industrial enterprises," Zelensky said.

"Metafrax Chemicals is an important part of Russia's chemical industry. The enterprise's products supply dozens of other Russian military manufacturers, including aviation equipment and drones, missile engines, and explosives," he added.

According to Zelensky, production at the facility has been halted following the strike.

Regional Governor Dmitry Makhonin claimed several drones were shot down on approach by Russian air defenses and mobile fire groups, adding that there were no casualties.

Earlier, Telegram channel Exilenova Plus reported that the target was the AKM chemical complex operated by Metafrax Chemicals in the city of Gubakha. The facility produces ammonia, urea, and melamine, with a reported capacity of nearly 900 tons of ammonia and more than 1,600 tons of urea per day.

The facility was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones earlier this year, with a fire breaking out there in February 2026.

Ukraine's General Staff later confirmed  separate Ukrainian strikes on the Sheskharis oil terminal and the Grushovaya oil depot in Novorossiysk, as well as on the tanker "Chrysalis," which Kyiv described as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet."

According to the military, fires were recorded at both oil facilities following the strikes.

Earlier, the Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters claimed that the fire broke out at an unnamed facility as a result of fallen drone debris.

"Several technical and administrative buildings caught fire. Fragments of drones also fell on the territory of the fuel terminal," the Operational Headquarters said in a Telegram post.

The General Staff described Sheskharis as one of Russia's largest oil terminals on the Black Sea, with a capacity of up to 75 million tons of oil per year. The military said the facility is involved in supplying fuel and petroleum products for the Russian army.

The site is a major oil export terminal that serves as the endpoint for pipelines run by Russia's state-run Transneft, the world's largest oil pipeline company.

Two people were injured in the Ukrainian drone attack, authorities reported.

The Sheskharis oil terminal has already been struck by Ukrainian drones several times, including on April 6 and on March 2.

Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's capacity to continue waging its war. Kyiv considers energy sites legitimate targets as they fuel Russia's war machine.

On May 21, Ukrainian forces attacked an oil refinery in the Russian city of Syzran in the Samara Oblast overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.

"This is yet another of our long-range sanctions against the Russian oil refining industry, and we will continue along this path," Zelensky said, adding that the target was located more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.