Ukraine Targets Key Russian Explosives Plant in Drone Strikes
Ukraine launched a series of drone strikes deep within Russian territory, targeting a key manufacturer of military explosives and infrastructure at a military airfield in the Lipetsk region, according to Kyiv’s General Staff on Sunday.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.
Explosives Plant and Airfield Hit
Among the primary targets was the Ya. M. Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise, a large explosives manufacturing plant located in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, about 400 kilometers east of Moscow. This facility, which is crucial to Russia’s military operations, has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for its role in the war against Ukraine. Ukrainian forces also targeted storage infrastructure at a military airfield in the Lipetsk region.
Kyiv is still assessing the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. Russian officials confirmed that four firefighters sustained minor injuries from shrapnel in the Dzerzhinsk area but did not specify the exact damage to the plant.
Russia Downs 110 Drones
Russia’s defence ministry reported that its air defense units downed 110 Ukrainian drones, including one over Moscow, 43 over the border region of Kursk, and 27 in the Lipetsk region. Additionally, eight drones were shot down in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where residents reported explosions and sightings of white smoke near the explosives plant.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that debris fell in the Ramensky district of Moscow, though no damage or casualties were reported.
Retaliatory Strikes Amid Ongoing Conflict
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that its air attacks focus on infrastructure essential to Russia’s war efforts. The latest strikes are seen as a direct response to Russia’s continued air assaults on Ukrainian territory.
Russian authorities often withhold detailed information about the full extent of damage caused by drone attacks, particularly those affecting military, transport, or energy infrastructure. As tensions continue to rise, these drone strikes signal Kyiv’s determination to disrupt Russia’s military operations from within its borders.
