Ukraine Drone Strike on Smolensk Plant Kills Up to Seven; Reports Vary

A drone strike early on 25 February 2026 struck the PJSC Dorogobuzh chemical-fertilizer plant in Russia’s Smolensk region.

“MOSCOW Seven people were killed and 10 others injured in Ukraine's drone attack on a civilian industrial enterprise producing nitrogen fertilizers in Russia's Smolensk region, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Wednesday”

Anadolu Ajansı

Russian officials describe the site as a civilian nitrogen-fertiliser enterprise and have attributed the attack to Ukraine.

Anadolu Ajansı

Russian bodies — including the Investigative Committee and regional governor Vasily Anokhin — said roughly 30 explosive-laden drones were involved and reported multiple casualties and localized fires as rescuers worked the scene.

Moscow has opened a criminal probe under its "terrorist attack" article while emergency teams assessed damage and considered evacuations of nearby settlements.

Reports describe extensive damage to production units at the Dorogobuzh site.

The ammonia and ammonium nitrate workshops and the plant’s autothermal synthesis unit in the nitric acid/ammonia circuit were hit.

Asharq Al-awsat - English

The strikes sparked fires that rescuers later said were contained.

Some outlets also report an associated strike on a nearby thermal power plant.

Residents experienced shockwaves and temporary water and utility outages.

Emergency teams worked to secure the area.

Casualty counts vary across outlets: several international wires and state-linked Russian reports say seven killed and at least ten injured, while other regional reports cite fewer deaths — for example, some Kremlin-aligned channels and local reports cite four fatalities and lower injury totals.

“Russia's Investigative Committee said the plant was struck by 30 drones A fertiliser plant in western Russia has come under attack by Ukrainian drones, killing seven people and injuring at least ten”

BBC

Air-defence tallies also differ, with figures ranging from 14 drones shot down locally to reports saying dozens, or even 69, were intercepted across multiple regions that night.

Russian authorities and media framed the strike as a severe, criminal act.

The Investigative Committee opened a terrorism case, and regional officials used stark language.

Boston Herald

Other outlets placed the attack in the context of ongoing cross-border drone campaigns and mutual strikes.

They noted Kyiv’s broader drone operations and that Ukrainian authorities had not immediately commented or denied targeting civilians.

Significant uncertainty and conflicting reporting remain.

“Ukraine attacked a large chemical plant in Smolensk that produces fertilizer and products for the Russian military”

Daily Kos

Social-media footage of fires is described as unverified by several wires.

Daily Kos

Casualty figures and intercepted-drone counts contradict between outlets.

Some reports note related or distant strikes reported elsewhere that are not consistently covered.

That mix of official statements, local Russian channels, international news wires and alternative outlets produces varying emphases, from legal denunciation to technical damage detail.

The mix leaves the precise death toll and full scope of damage unclear in the immediate aftermath.