High-Rise Building Damaged in Yekaterinburg Center as Chelyabinsk Residents Report Hearing Explosions

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions in Russia came under attack from Ukrainian drones for the first time, according to official statements from regional governors and the Russian Defense Ministry.

The governor of Sverdlovsk region, Denis Pasler, confirmed via Telegram that a Ukrainian drone struck a high-rise residential building in the center of Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth most populous city. The attack damaged the Trinity building, breaking windows on upper floors and scattering facade debris and drone parts up to 200 meters from the site. Smoke was visible from the impact, and residents reported hearing a rumble in the sky followed by a loud explosion.

According to Pasler, nine people sought medical assistance after inhaling combustion products from the blast, with one person hospitalized due to poisoning. Five individuals refused hospitalization, and psychologists were deployed to support residents. No fatalities were reported.

Preliminary assessments indicated that 44 apartments in the building were damaged, prompting the evacuation of 81 people. Residents were directed to a temporary accommodation center at School No. 10, with one family placed in a hotel. Authorities provided water, hot meals, and sleeping arrangements. Specialists inspected the building’s load-bearing structures and confirmed there is no threat of collapse, with repairs planned for the housing.

In Chelyabinsk, which borders Kazakhstan, the regional governor stated that an attack on a facility in the city had been prevented. He reported no casualties or damage, though local residents said they heard explosions originating from the direction of the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, one of Russia’s largest steelmakers.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 127 drones overnight during the attacks. Ukrainian forces reportedly used “Lyuty” UAVs in the strike on Yekaterinburg, as noted by the Telegram channel SHOT, which also shared footage of the drone’s impact and resulting damage.

This marks the first time Ukrainian drones have reached the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, which are located over 1,700 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The attacks represent a significant expansion of the geographic scope of drone warfare in the ongoing conflict.