Ukrainian forces carried out a drone attack targeting a nitrogen fertilizer factory in the Smolensk region of Russia, leading to the death of four workers and injuries to ten others, according to local governor Vasily Anokhin. The attack occurred during the night and was described by the governor as a 'barbaric terrorist act' by Ukrainian armed forces. The drone strike ignited a fire at the industrial facility located approximately 80 kilometers east of Smolensk.

The fertilizer factory, which produced 2 million tons of fertilizers in 2024, also manufactures industrial products. This incident is part of a broader conflict where Ukrainian military operations are increasingly targeting Russian industrial sites in response to ongoing Russian bombardments on Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has justified such attacks as necessary measures given the scale of Russian aggression.

This attack raises international concern over the escalation of violence in the region, with implications for both civilian safety and the ongoing war dynamics. As the conflict continues to evolve, incidents like this underline the potential for significant humanitarian crises and the urgent need for diplomatic interventions to reduce hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.