Ukrainian drones carried out a night-time strike on a major Russian military factory in the city of Yelets, sparking a fire that halted operations at the facility, a vital component of President Vladimir Putin’s military-industrial complex.
The target was the Energija factory in the Lipetsk region, according to confirmations from both local Russian authorities and Ukrainian sources.
The plant is known for producing batteries and power systems used across nearly all branches of Russia’s defense sector.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that at least 112 Ukrainian drones were shot down during the third consecutive night of drone attacks. Among the targets was Moscow, where the strikes disrupted airport operations.
Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed the drone strikes triggered a fire in the industrial zone, injuring eight people. One drone hit the roof of a residential building, damaging 20 apartments, though no fatalities were reported.
While Artamonov did not name the factory directly, he denied claims of any dangerous chemical leaks. However, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation stated that the attack forced the factory to shut down.
