Ukraine Strikes Drone Factory 655 Miles Into Russia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Ukraine's military said Wednesday that it had carried out a strike on a drone-manufacturing facility located some 655 miles inside Russian territory.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Russia has been hit with waves of drone strikes since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with some reaching deep inside Russian territory. These attacks have primarily focused on military infrastructure, including ammunition depots, weapons warehouses, and logistics hubs. Russia has accused Kyiv of trying to carry out terrorist attacks using drones.
Wednesday's reported strike is significant, as the targeted facility is believed to produce combat drones used by Putin's military to cause destruction on Ukrainian soil.
What To Know
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said that a strike had successfully hit a drone manufacturing facility in the Yelabuga district of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, located some 655 miles from Ukraine's border.
The armed forces said Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck the facility, which produces about 300 different combat drones per day, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, and the Russian-made versions, known as Geran uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Geran drones are known for their distinctive low, buzzing sound, and are equipped to carry warheads that shatter or explode upon reaching their target.
There were "confirmed hits and explosions in the target area," the General Staff said, adding that the damage is being assessed.
Earlier on Wednesday, independent Russian news outlet Astra said a long-range drone strike by Ukraine had targeted the district. It shared footage that purportedly showed a drone being downed. Newsweek has yet to verify this. The Telegram channel noted that there is a drone plant in the district.
Ukraine has been striking deep inside Russian territory throughout the war. In August, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk region—located some 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from the Ukraine border.
What People Are Saying
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement: "The strike is a justified response against a strategic military site used to support Russia's aggression and terror against Ukraine and Ukrainian civilians."
What Happens Next
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month that his military has tested new drones with a record 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) range. It is unclear when they will be used on the battlefield, but the president said the new variant is part of a "line of long-range weapons that will help guarantee the security of our state."
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is attempting to broker peace talks to end the conflict, but Russia and Ukraine are struggling to reach mutually acceptable terms.
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