Ukraine’s military has confirmed it carried out a precision strike on a major Russian chemical facility using British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles marking a significant escalation in the use of long-range Western weaponry in the ongoing war.
In a statement released Tuesday, Ukraine’s General Staff said the strike targeted the Bryansk Chemical Plant, a site it described as a “critical part of Russia’s military-industrial complex.” The facility reportedly produces gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel components used in missiles and ammunition fired at Ukrainian territory.
Calling the mission “a successful hit,” Ukrainian officials said the missiles managed to penetrate Russian air defense systems. The military is still assessing the full impact of what it described as a “massive strike.”
Just hours after the strike, Russia launched a heavy barrage of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, killing at least six people including two children according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The strikes caused widespread damage and power outages, with emergency blackouts reported in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and surrounding areas. In Kyiv alone, two people died, and residential buildings sustained significant damage, officials said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian debris struck multiple sites in the capital overnight. The city’s military administration confirmed civilian casualties, and residents reported loud explosions believed to be from air defense systems.
As of Wednesday, Russian officials had not publicly acknowledged the strike on the Bryansk facility. However, Moscow has repeatedly warned Western nations against supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons like Storm Shadows, which are capable of hitting targets over 250 kilometers away.
Ukraine has argued that such strikes are legitimate military actions aimed at degrading Russia’s ability to sustain its invasion. “The Bryansk plant directly supports the enemy’s war effort. It is a lawful target,” the General Staff stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The attack came on the same day UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, alongside European and Ukrainian leaders, pledged to intensify pressure on the Russian economy and defense industry.
In a joint statement signed by the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Finland, and others, they reaffirmed support for Ukraine, insisting that “Kyiv must be in the strongest possible position before, during, and after any ceasefire.”
Despite this show of unity, Ukraine continues to face limitations in its access to certain Western weapons. During a recent meeting at the White House, former President Donald Trump reportedly declined to authorize the transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv a capability Ukraine has long requested.
The missile diplomacy comes amid broader uncertainty over possible peace talks. Trump had earlier floated the idea of a summit with Vladimir Putin in Budapest but later walked it back, saying he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” while Russia refused to halt hostilities.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has now stretched into its third year. Moscow continues to occupy about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. Ukraine insists that restoring its internationally recognised borders remains a non-negotiable condition for peace.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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