Ukraine strikes Metafrax Chemicals plant 1,700 km inside Russia, halting production

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck the AKM chemical complex of Metafrax Chemicals in the town of Gubakha, Perm Krai, 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 23. The attack halted production at the facility, which Zelenskyy described as "an important part of the Russian chemical industry" whose products supply dozens of Russian military production facilities, including aviation, drones, rocket engines, and explosives.

"Now the production process at the plant is halted. Our long-range sanction is important," Zelenskyy stated.

The AKM complex specializes in the production of ammonia, urea and melamine, with a capacity of nearly 900 tonnes of ammonia and over 1,600 tonnes of urea per day.

Local witnesses described between four and six explosions on the plant's premises, followed by a large-scale fire, with damage and rising smoke visible in footage. Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed an "enemy UAV strike" on the industrial enterprise, saying Russian air defense forces and mobile units had allegedly shot down several drones on approach. Russian regional authorities said there were no casualties. The region imposed temporary "drone danger" and "carpet" airspace regimes that restrict civilian air operations and trigger enhanced security measures.

This is the third Ukrainian deep-strike operation against the same chemical complex in eight months. Ukraine's military intelligence agency first struck the plant in September 2025.