Ukrainian Drone Strike Destroys Russian Ammunition Depot in Tula

🔥 A precise strike deep behind the front lines

During the night of August 30, Ukraine’s military intelligence service (DIU) carried out a drone strike against an underground explosives depot in the Russian city of Aleksin, located in the Tula region. The target was the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant, a key facility in Russia’s production of ammunition and composite materials. According to DIU sources, the depot contained large amounts of pyrocellulose gunpowder—one of the most common components used in modern artillery.

The factory is situated more than 320 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, making the attack a striking demonstration of Ukraine’s growing reach and drone capabilities. Local residents reported loud detonations and a massive fire, and video footage from the area shows a powerful explosion lighting up the night sky.

💥 Officially confirmed—with reservations

The local authorities in Tula confirmed that a UAV attack had occurred, but insisted that the strike had been “thwarted by air defense” and that “debris from a drone fell onto the factory grounds.” However, this narrative clashes with images and videos circulating on social media—which clearly document significant damage to the facility.

This is not the first time that the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant has been targeted by Ukrainian forces. Back in November 2024, the facility was attacked by drones, damaging tanks containing concentrated nitric acid and a nitration line. At that time, it was a joint operation between the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and special forces.

🧨 A target of strategic significance

The plant has long served as a critical hub in Russia’s war production. In September 2023, Russian media reported that the facility was set to be modernized and expand its output of artillery propellants in various grades. The ongoing upgrades were seen as part of Russia’s broader push to boost its military capability amid prolonged fighting.

Aleksinsky Chemical Plant is subject to sanctions from the US, the EU, and Ukraine—precisely for its support of Russia’s military-industrial complex. As a result, the plant is not only a technical target, but a symbolic one as well.

🔄 Escalating pattern in Russia’s heartland

The latest strike fits into a clear trend. Ukrainian drones are increasingly being used to hit targets deep inside Russian territory. For instance, on August 15, the Elastik gunpowder factory in the Ryazan region exploded—a tragedy that claimed 28 lives and injured over 150 people.

The Aleksin strike marks yet another step in a new phase of the war, where Ukrainian operations are no longer limited to the front line. With increasing range and precision, the DIU and other units are entering a new trial by fire—one that sends a clear message: no part of the Russian war machine is now beyond reach.

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