War: Ukraine hits key Russian chemical plant

Ukraine’s military has confirmed that it carried out a precision strike on a major Russian chemical facility using British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

In a statement on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the Bryansk Chemical Plant was targeted as part of an operation against Russia’s military-industrial infrastructure.

The plant reportedly produces gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel components used in missiles and ammunition deployed against Ukraine.

The military described the attack as a “successful hit,” saying the missiles penetrated Russian air defenses. An assessment of the full impact of the strike is still ongoing.

Hours after the attack, Russia launched a large-scale wave of drone and missile strikes across several Ukrainian cities, killing at least six people, including two children, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Emergency blackouts were reported in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and surrounding areas. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed civilian casualties and damage to residential buildings.

As of Wednesday, Russian authorities had not commented on the reported strike.

Moscow had previously warned Western countries against providing Ukraine with long-range weapons such as the Storm Shadow, which can hit targets more than 250 kilometers away.

Ukraine has defended its use of such weapons, calling the Bryansk facility a legitimate military target supporting Russia’s war effort.

The attack coincided with a renewed pledge of support for Kyiv by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European leaders, who vowed to increase pressure on Russia’s defense industry.

Despite ongoing Western backing, Ukraine continues to face restrictions on access to some advanced weaponry. Reports suggest former U.S. President Donald Trump recently declined to approve the transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv.

The conflict, now in its third year, has left Russia in control of about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. Kyiv maintains that the restoration of its internationally recognized borders remains a prerequisite for any peace negotiations.