The situation on the Russian-Ukrainian war front has intensified following a series of mutual air attacks. The latest reports from February 25, 2026, confirm that at least seven people were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on chemical plants in western Russia. Simultaneously, the Ukrainian side reports tragic consequences of Russian shelling in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where civilian casualties have been recorded.

Rising death toll in Russia

The number of people killed in the drone strike on the Russian factory has increased from an initial four to seven.

Tragic shelling in Ukraine

Russian airstrikes on Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk caused the deaths of six civilians in a single day.

Kremlin's personnel problems

Analyses indicate that Russian losses on the front currently exceed the rate of recruitment of new soldiers.

During the night and morning hours of February 25, 2026, there was a significant intensification of hostilities involving unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukrainian drones struck strategic chemical plants located in the western part of the Russian Federation. While initial reports mentioned four fatalities, the latest data provided by news agencies, including BBC and Focus, indicate the death of at least seven factory workers. This facility is crucial for the Russian industrial sector as it produces chemical compounds used for military purposes. Simultaneously, southern Ukraine became the target of massive Russian attacks. In the Zaporizhzhia region, four people were killed as a result of shelling, with several others injured. The attacks also affected the Dnipropetrovsk region, where two people lost their lives. Ukrainian air defense reported intercepting 95 Russian drones in a single night, demonstrating the enormous scale of the aerial operation.Since 2022, the Zaporizhzhia region has been one of the most volatile points of the conflict, experiencing constant clashes and being home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation. Meanwhile, reports from the land front suggest growing personnel problems within the Russian army. According to analyses available in the media, Russia is currently losing more soldiers than it can recruit through ongoing mobilization efforts. This negative trend may in the future force the Kremlin to decide on another wave of official mobilization, which carries significant social and political risks. The situation remains extremely dynamic, with both sides of the conflict focusing on destroying each other's logistical and industrial infrastructure. „„Infolge des Angriffs auf die Fabrik ist die Zahl der Todesopfer auf sieben gestiegen, die Rettungsarbeiten dauern an”” — Vasily Anokhin Fatalities in attacks on February 25: Factory in Russia: 7, Zaporizhzhia region: 4, Dnipropetrovsk region: 2

Mentioned People

  • Wasilij Anochin — Governor of Smolensk Oblast reporting on the consequences of the attack.
  • Władimir Putin — President of Russia, in the context of military recruitment problems.