On the night of 25 February, FP-1 unmanned aerial vehicles struck the Dorogobuzh chemical plant in Smolensk region, Russian Federation. The facility specializes in the production of nitrogen fertilizers and related chemical products, including ammonium nitrate. In 2024, the affected production site accounted for approximately 10% of Russia’s total ammonium nitrate output. Certain components manufactured at the plant have potential dual-use applications in both civilian and military contexts.
The monitoring outlets Astra and Exilenova+ reported that the strikes triggered a fire on the plant’s premises. Following the incident, classes in local schools were suspended.
The outlet CyberBoroshno reported that the drone strike targeting the production, storage, and transportation areas for ammonia-based fertilizers resulted in a series of explosions. According to the source, the blasts occurred at the truck loading area, the railway terminal, and directly at the finished goods warehouse. Facilities involved in ammonium nitrate production were also reportedly affected.
The incident generated a significant blast wave, which reportedly destroyed one of the overpass structures and damaged adjacent production units within a radius of several hundred meters. Debris was dispersed across the surrounding area.
Smolensk region Governor Vasily Anokhin confirmed that a nitrogen fertilizer plant had been attacked and that a fire had broken out. He stated that air defense forces had allegedly intercepted 14 unmanned aerial vehicles, although one drone struck the plant’s premises. Emergency services were deployed to the site and reported that the main fire sources had been contained.
Russian authorities reported the possibility of evacuating residents from a nearby settlement and indicated that specialists from supervisory agencies would be involved in assessing the consequences of the incident. Subsequently, residents of the adjacent village of Pushkaryovo were evacuated to a temporary accommodation center. It was also noted that this was the second reported attack on the facility, with a previous strike having occurred in December 2025.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also released information on the reported results of earlier strikes against Russian facilities. According to the statement, a strike on the Neftegorsk Gas Processing Plant in Neftegorsk, Samara region, on 21 February resulted in damage to an electric desalting unit, two gas condensate stabilization units, and two vertical storage tanks. A leakage of petroleum products was also reported.
One day earlier, a missile production facility in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, was reportedly targeted, leading to the destruction of Production Workshop No. 22.
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Source: dw
