(ROSTOV ON DON, ROSTOV OBLAST, RUSSIA) – Explosions and large fires were reported overnight in Rostov on Don after what local accounts and video footage indicate was a Ukrainian drone strike on the Empils paint and chemical plant. The incident occurred in the early hours of 14 January 2026 and caused visible damage to industrial infrastructure in the southern Russian city.
Footage shared by residents on social media showed bright explosions followed by heavy flames and thick black smoke rising from the industrial area. The videos appeared to show fuel or oil storage tanks burning near the Empils facility, suggesting that flammable materials at the site had been ignited during the attack.
The Empils plant is a major manufacturer of paints and industrial chemical products and forms part of the wider industrial base in Rostov on Don. Local reporting described multiple explosions at the plant and a separate fire at a nearby oil storage site. Emergency services were deployed to the area to contain the blaze and secure surrounding infrastructure.
Russian authorities confirmed that air defence systems were active over Rostov on Don during the night. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that several Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the region and said that some damage was caused by falling debris. However, officials acknowledged that fires had broken out at industrial locations within the city.
Regional officials reported civilian casualties, stating that at least one person was killed and several others were injured, including a child. The exact circumstances of the casualties have not been independently verified, and officials did not publicly identify all affected sites by name.
Analysts reviewing the available footage said the intensity and location of the fires were consistent with fuel storage or chemical infrastructure being hit. However, it remains unclear whether the damage was caused directly by drone impacts or by fragments resulting from air defence interceptions.
The strike on Rostov on Don follows a broader pattern of Ukrainian long range drone operations targeting industrial, energy, and logistics infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. These operations are widely seen as part of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt supply chains that support Russia’s war effort.
New footage has emerged showing the explosions and fires in Rostov-on-Don after Ukrainian drones struck the industrial Empils plant
