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The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday said Ukraine attempted to launch drone attacks on chemical facilities storing first-class hazardous substances, but claimed the strikes were successfully intercepted. Major General Alexey Rtishchev, Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops, told reporters that sites in Veliky Novgorod and the town of Rossosh in the Voronezh region were targeted.
Rtishchev also accused Ukrainian forces of trying to destroy chemical facilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, warning that such attacks could expose civilians to dangerous substances. He said the Zarya industrial site in Rubezhnoye, the Azot plant in Severodonetsk, and the Coke and Chemical Plant in Avdeyevka had all come under repeated shelling.
Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building in the city of Tver, northwest of Moscow, injuring seven people in an overnight attack.
The developments came a day after US President Donald Trump said he was “extremely frustrated” with both Kyiv and Moscow over the ongoing war, warning it could escalate into a “third world war.” Expressing concern over stalled peace efforts, Trump said, “I’d like to see the killing stop. Twenty-five thousand people died last month, mostly soldiers. I would love to see it stop.” His press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president “doesn’t want any more talk” and wants the conflict to end, adding that special envoy Steve Witkoff remained in contact with both sides.
As per Moscow Times report, Russian authorities separately reported that air defences shot down 287 Ukrainian drones overnight — one of the highest numbers recorded since the war began. The drone wave caused temporary airport closures in Moscow, delaying or cancelling around 200 flights, and diverting some to St Petersburg.
Eyewitness reports and footage verified by Astra indicated that a fire broke out at or near the Acron mineral fertiliser plant in Veliky Novgorod during the attacks. Regional governor Alexander Dronov said 19 drones were downed, one person was injured and damage to buildings was “insignificant.” Astra noted that it could not confirm whether the Acron facility itself was hit. The outlet also reported a possible strike on Acron’s subsidiary PAO Dorogobuzh in the Smolensk region near the Belarus border.
Rtishchev also accused Ukrainian forces of trying to destroy chemical facilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, warning that such attacks could expose civilians to dangerous substances. He said the Zarya industrial site in Rubezhnoye, the Azot plant in Severodonetsk, and the Coke and Chemical Plant in Avdeyevka had all come under repeated shelling.
Separately, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building in the city of Tver, northwest of Moscow, injuring seven people in an overnight attack.
The developments came a day after US President Donald Trump said he was “extremely frustrated” with both Kyiv and Moscow over the ongoing war, warning it could escalate into a “third world war.” Expressing concern over stalled peace efforts, Trump said, “I’d like to see the killing stop. Twenty-five thousand people died last month, mostly soldiers. I would love to see it stop.” His press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president “doesn’t want any more talk” and wants the conflict to end, adding that special envoy Steve Witkoff remained in contact with both sides.
As per Moscow Times report, Russian authorities separately reported that air defences shot down 287 Ukrainian drones overnight — one of the highest numbers recorded since the war began. The drone wave caused temporary airport closures in Moscow, delaying or cancelling around 200 flights, and diverting some to St Petersburg.
Eyewitness reports and footage verified by Astra indicated that a fire broke out at or near the Acron mineral fertiliser plant in Veliky Novgorod during the attacks. Regional governor Alexander Dronov said 19 drones were downed, one person was injured and damage to buildings was “insignificant.” Astra noted that it could not confirm whether the Acron facility itself was hit. The outlet also reported a possible strike on Acron’s subsidiary PAO Dorogobuzh in the Smolensk region near the Belarus border.
