Ukraine strikes Russian chemical plant with storm shadow missiles

Ukraine’s military confirmed on Tuesday that it had struck a Russian chemical plant using UK-supplied Storm Shadow long-range missiles, in what officials described as a “successful hit” that bypassed Russian air defences.

The strike, part of a larger operation still under assessment by Ukraine’s General Staff, targeted the facility deep inside Russian territory.

Though the Ukrainian military has not disclosed the exact location of the plant or its operational role, the use of Storm Shadow missiles—capable of reaching targets over 250 kilometers away—suggests a high-value target.

“The strike penetrated Russian air defence systems and was part of a massive coordinated effort,” Ukraine’s military said in a statement. “Further damage assessment is ongoing.”

In what appeared to be swift retaliation, Russia launched a heavy barrage of missiles and drones across several Ukrainian regions within hours of the Ukrainian strike.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, six civilians were killed in the overnight attacks, including two children. Emergency power outages were triggered in the capital Kyiv and across the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as critical energy infrastructure, including thermal power plants, was targeted.

In the capital, two people were confirmed dead following missile strikes. In the wider Kyiv region, a woman and her two children were killed when a residential area was hit, local officials reported. Search and rescue teams continued to work through the night to locate survivors under the rubble.

“These are war crimes. Russia is targeting civilian infrastructure and families,” President Zelensky said in a televised address.

“Ukraine will not be intimidated. We will defend every life, every city, and every light that powers our homes.”

The escalation comes as Ukraine intensifies its deep-strike capabilities, enabled in part by Western-supplied long-range weapons like the Storm Shadow and France’s SCALP-EG. The chemical plant strike marks one of the most high-profile uses of the missile to date.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian energy officials warned that continued attacks on power stations could lead to rolling blackouts as winter approaches.

With fighting intensifying on multiple fronts and peace efforts stalled, international observers fear a further escalation as both sides ramp up offensive operations.

Western leaders have reiterated calls for de-escalation while reaffirming their support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression.