Russia Targets Ukrainian Military Facilities in New Wave of Strikes

Russia has launched a series of strikes targeting military facilities across Ukraine, including a significant attack on the Antonov plant in Kyiv, a key site within the state-owned Ukroboronprom defense conglomerate. Historically recognized as the largest aircraft manufacturer during Soviet times, the Antonov plant has recently pivoted to producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that the Ukrainian Armed Forces employ in their operations against Russian territories. The attack resulted in a fire at the facility and inflicted damage on additional military sites in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava regions. As of now, the Russian Defense Ministry has not confirmed these operations.

Ukrainian regions experienced a night of intense explosions, marking a large-scale offensive operation. At the Antonov plant, reports indicate that UAV production has been ongoing since 2023, and the facility caught fire following the strike.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the airfield in Kislichevata was also targeted, leading to the destruction of three An-2 aircraft, which are believed to have been modified for drone interception, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Kyiv faced one of the most severe attacks from Russia in recent months. A military correspondent characterized the strikes as a “tough symmetrical response” to Ukrainian military actions against Russian cities. He shared accounts from residents in Kyiv, noting that any casualties reported were linked to air defense efforts or debris from intercepted missiles and drones. He claimed that Russian strikes were focused solely on military targets.

In a related development, Russian air defense forces repelled a major drone attack launched from Ukraine, destroying a total of 94 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across several border regions. The Belgorod region was notably impacted, with 64 drones shot down, while 24 drones were intercepted in the Bryansk region. This incident marks one of the largest drone raids in recent months, underscoring the escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the attack affected six regions simultaneously. In Belgorod, the air defense systems operated at full capacity, reflecting the scale of the assault. Additionally, two drones were shot down in the Kursk and Lipetsk regions, and one each in the Voronezh and Tula regions. Despite the success of the air defense, debris from the downed drones caused local damage; in the Tula region, for example, a gas pipeline was damaged at an enterprise in Novomoskovsk, resulting in injuries to three individuals, two of whom were hospitalized.

The surge in drone attacks on Russian regions coincides with a broader pattern of military exchanges between the two nations, further complicating the already volatile situation.