Ukrainian drone hits chemical plant in Russia's Perm Krai 1,800 km from border, source says
Editor's Note: The story was update to include details from a military intelligence source.
A Ukrainian drone struck the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Russia's Perm Krai the evening of Sept. 13, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent on Sept. 14.
Perm Krai lies over 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
At around 9:20 p.m. local time on Sept. 13, Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin reported that a Ukrainian drone had hit an industrial enterprise in the city of Gubakha. He did not disclose details about the enterprise.
"According to preliminary information, equipment for urea production has been damaged," the source claimed.
Although urea is primarily used in agriculture, it can also serve as a component in the production of explosives.
Russian opposition news channel Astra identified the target as the Metafrax Chemicals plant, a major complex located in Gubakha.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication.
In 2023, the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Gubakha launched a new Ammonia-Urea-Melamine (AUM) production facility that reportedly produced 300,000 tons of ammonia in its first eight months. The company has been sanctioned by the U.K. and Ukraine.
Ukraine regularly launches long-range drone attacks on industrial and military targets in Russian territory. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) carried out a drone strike on Sept. 12 on a major oil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the border, according to intelligence sources.
