In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has conducted strikes on a major military explosives manufacturer deep within Russian territory, as well as targeting storage infrastructure at a military airfield in the Lipetsk region. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed these operations in a statement released overnight.
The attack specifically targeted the Sverdlov State-Owned Enterprise, located in Dzerzhinsk city in the Nizhny Novgorod region, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Moscow. This facility is one of the largest producers of military explosives used by Russian forces in their invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The plant has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union.
According to reports from the Russian Ministry of Defence, Russian air defense units intercepted and shot down 110 Ukrainian drones across the country. This included drone activity over the Moscow region, 43 over the Kursk border region, and 27 over Lipetsk. Reports from the Russian SHOT Telegram channel indicated that some drones attempted to strike the Sverdlov facility.
The Ukrainian General Staff indicated that the facility was involved in producing chemical components for artillery and aerial munitions. They noted the presence of powerful explosions and significant smoke following the strikes but are still assessing the full extent of the damage caused. A fire reportedly broke out at the military airfield in Lipetsk due to a drone attack.
While the exact number of casualties from the strikes remains unclear, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region reported that four firefighters sustained minor injuries due to shrapnel. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that drone debris fell in the Ramensky district, though it caused no damage or injuries.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry reported the destruction of eight Ukrainian drones over Nizhny Novgorod. Russian officials typically provide limited information regarding the damage from such attacks, particularly concerning military, transport, or energy targets.
On the Ukrainian side, the conflict continues to take a toll on civilians. In Kryvyi Rih, local officials reported that 17 people were injured after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city late Saturday evening, damaging homes and businesses. Ukraine’s air force stated that Russia launched 49 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles overnight, with 31 drones intercepted over 12 regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
Kyiv has repeatedly emphasized that its air attacks are aimed at disrupting critical infrastructure tied to Russia’s military operations and are a direct response to ongoing Russian air assaults on Ukraine.
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