Ukraine strikes Voronezh petrochemicals and aircraft maker

Ukrainian drones hit two major industrial targets in the Russian city of Voronezh during the night of October 25 and 26, triggering fires at a petrochemical facility and an aviation plant.

The Voronezhsintezkauchuk rubber plant, which manufactures synthetic rubbers and polymer materials, was among the facilities struck. The site operates as part of the Russian Sibur group. Ukrainian Open Source Intelligence channels identified the second target as the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association, known as VASO. This plant belongs to the Ilyushin Aviation Complex division within the United Aircraft Corporation. VASO produces components for the Ilyushin Il-96 jet airliner.

Aleksandr Gusev, the governor of Voronezh Oblast, confirmed that fires broke out at several industrial businesses. He stated the blazes occurred without major consequences but did not initially name the specific companies involved. Gusev reported that air defense systems shot down more than 70 drones directly over the city. He said a total of 113 drones were intercepted across the wider Voronezh urban area and surrounding districts.

Beyond the industrial sites, Gusev noted fires in a business center, an apartment building, two seasonal dacha settlements, a school stadium, and a garage cooperative. He recorded damage to building facades and windows in nearly every district of the city. Russian media outlet Astra identified the hit business center as Galereya Chizhova, located at 35A Koltsovskaya Street. Video footage captured the moment of explosion at that location.

Astra also documented explosions near residential buildings at 52A 25th Yanvarya Street and 4K Arkhitektora Troitskovo Street. The Uritsky residential complex at 135 Uritskovo Street sustained damage. At a car park on 275/1 45th Strelkovoy Divizii Street, at least 10 vehicles caught fire. Readers of the outlet reported hearing explosions and air defense activity for over an hour while smoke covered the city.

Residents stated that no air raid warning was issued before the strikes began. The attack targeted critical infrastructure linked to Russian state-owned industrial conglomerates. The Sibur group manages the rubber plant, while United Aircraft Corporation oversees the aircraft manufacturing site.