Ukraine confirms strike on Energia plant in Russia’s Lipetsk region

The General Staff of Ukraine reported this on May 23.

"On the night of May 23, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, together with other Defense Forces units, struck PJSC Energia in Yelets, Lipetsk region. They confirmed the hit, recorded several explosions, and a fire broke out at the site," the statement said.

The General Staff is still checking the full damage.

Energia is a key part of Russia’s military industry. It makes chemical power sources, including batteries for guided bombs, Iskander-M missiles, sea-launched cruise missiles, and other modern Russian weapons.

Shutting down this plant could seriously weaken Russia’s ability to power its military equipment.

Attack on the Energia plant in Yelets

According to the head of the Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov, 8 people were injured in a UAV attack on Yelets, Lipetsk region. Locals say the Energia plant was attacked.

"Eight people were injured as a result of a UAV crash and a fire that broke out in the industrial zone of Yelets. All of them are being provided with the necessary medical care. The Internet is spreading information about the leakage of hazardous substances after the fire. This information is not true," Artamonov said.

He noted that the wreckage of the UAV also fell on the roof of a residential building, there were no injuries and the building was not destroyed.

PJSC Energia is Russia's largest enterprise specializing in the production of chemical power sources. The plant has been operating since 1941.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, also informed that an important plant of the Russian military-industrial complex, Energia, in the city of Yelets, Lipetsk region, was attacked.

This plant produces:

• Batteries and accumulators: for unmanned aerial vehicles, aviation, marine, and radio equipment.
• Lithium-ion and mercury-zinc cells used in communication, control, electronic warfare (EW) systems and simulators for tanks and missile systems.
• Electrochemical capacitors: used for the needs of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
• Light-optical power plants: provide autonomous power supply without laying power lines.

Energia is a supplier to the Russian Ministry of Defense and also cooperates with other government agencies such as Roscosmos, the Interior Ministry, the FSB, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and Gazprom. The plant's products are used in communication, control, electronic warfare, and UAV systems, as well as in the production of Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.

The plant is under sanctions by the EU, the US, Japan and other countries because of its importance to the Russian military-industrial complex. However, it continued to operate.

According to Kovalenko, the plant is currently suspending operations after the attack.

UAVs on Moscow

Starting at 7:42 p.m. on May 22, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that a drone attack on Moscow had been repelled. In the evening and throughout the night, according to him, Russian troops allegedly shot down at least 20 drones heading toward Moscow.

Russian Defense Ministry's report

Since 8 p.m. on May 22, Russian air defense allegedly destroyed and intercepted 112 drones:

• 24 UAVs - over the territory of the Moscow region,
• 11 UAVs - over the territory of the Kursk region,
• 8 UAVs - over the territory of the Orel region,
• 18 UAVs - over the territory of the Tula region,
• 22 UAVs - over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
• 8 UAVs - over the territory of the Bryansk region,
• 6 UAVs - over the territory of the Ryazan region,
• 5 UAVs - over the territory of Kaluga region,
• 3 UAVs - over the territory of Belgorod region,
• 3 UAVs - over the territory of Ivanovo region,
• 2 UAVs - over the territory of Vladimir region,
• 1 UAV - over the territory of Voronezh region,
• 1 UAV - over the territory of Lipetsk region.

On the afternoon of May 21, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the downing of four drones that were allegedly flying toward the Russian capital. On the night of May 22, he claimed to have shot down 27 more UAVs.