Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukraine struck several targets, including a petrochemical plant and warehouse in Siberia, about 2,500 kilometers from the border, on October 24, monitoring channels reported.
A fire broke out for the first time at the Omsky Kauchuk petrochemical plant in the Russian city of Omsk, according to Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova Plus.
The facility is one of Russia’s largest petrochemical plants, and the company behind Omsky Kauchuk says the site is a leading producer of synthetic rubber, organic synthetic products and methyl tert-butyl ether, an additive used to refine gasoline.
The plant is part of Russia’s rocket fuel supply chain, including for the Iskander ballistic missile used in deadly attacks on Ukraine, Exilenova Plus said.
Russian ballistic missiles targeted kyiv in a deadly attack on the night of October 13-14, killing five people and injuring 25 others. At least one person was killed and 24 others were injured in another Russian ballistic missile attack on the night of October 22.
Later, a warehouse belonging to major Russian online retailer Ozon was also hit by the Ukrainian drone attack, Exilenova Plus reported.
Omsk region governor Vitaliy Khotsenko confirmed the region was the target of Ukrainian drones, saying a logistics center in the city of Omsk had been hit.
“A logistics center in Omsk was attacked by a drone. Staff were quickly evacuated. Emergency services are working on site,” he said.
The information could not immediately be verified by the Kyiv Independent.
Ozon and its competitor Wildberries have been targeted by Ukrainian forces in recent months. These two countries represent a significant part of the Russian economy, with their broader ecosystems accounting for approximately 8.5% of Russian GDP.
Ukraine has targeted facilities that often serve as storage sites for dual-use goods used in weapons production and other military purposes.
Ukraine regularly strikes military targets deep inside Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow’s ability to continue its war.
The Omsk region also came under fire during an attack on October 8. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that its forces had struck the Omsk oil refinery.
“The destruction of such facilities constitutes Ukraine’s exercise of its inalienable right of self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and is aimed at reducing the military-economic potential of the Russian Federation,” the Ukrainian General Staff said.
Most recently, on October 24, the General Staff said that Ukrainian forces struck the Togliattikauchuk petrochemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti in Samara Oblast and an aircraft at the Yeysk airfield in Krasnodar Krai.
Synthetic rubbers are used to make solid fuel for tactical and ballistic rockets, according to the Joint Chiefs.
“Damage to such objects affects the supply chain of raw materials for the Russian missile program,” the Ukrainian General Staff wrote.
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