Ukrainian drones hit Russia's largest explosives plant in Dzerzhynsk and the Lipetsk-2 military airfield

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the information.

At the Lipetsk-2 airfield, Ukrainian drones targeted ammunition depots, fuel storage facilities, and Russian aircraft. The airfield hosts Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 fighter jets from the Russian air force, according to the General Staff of Ukraine.

Simultaneously, the Ukrainian Defence Forces attacked the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, about 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. This facility produced chemicals for artillery shells and high-explosive bombs, and Ukrainian sources report that guided aerial bombs were also stored there.

The General Staff of Ukraine confirmed that the attack on the Lipetsk-2 airfield and the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhinsk was executed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), and the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (SOF), in coordination with other elements of the Defence Forces.

"Combat work against important military targets of the Russian invaders continues," the military emphasised.

Russia's response to the attack

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed to have destroyed 43 drones over the Kursk region, 27 over Lipetsk, 18 over Oryol, and 8 over Nizhny Novgorod during the night. Additional drone interceptions were reported over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Moscow regions.

However, despite these claims of intercepts, Russian Telegram channels such as Shot and Astra reported an attack on the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhynsk, Nizhny Novgorod, which specializes in the production of explosives. 

Prior to that, residents had reported powerful explosions and white smoke in the area of the plant. According to eyewitnesses, a total of approximately 10 explosions were heard with intervals of several minutes between them. The sounds of gunfire and machine gun fire were also heard.

Later, the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin, informed that four firefighters were allegedly wounded in the attack on the city.

"According to preliminary information, four employees of the fire station located on the territory of the industrial enterprise suffered light shrapnel wounds - they received the necessary medical care and were all released," the governor wrote.

The Dzerzhinsk plant is one of Russia's largest producers of industrial explosives, transfer charges for the mining industry, perforating charges for the oil and gas industry, seismic and geophysical work.

The attacked plant is also on Ukraine's sanctions list "for supporting actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." Since June 23, 2023, the company has been included in the EU sanctions list, and the U.S., UK, Japan and Switzerland have also imposed sanctions on the plant.

The same night, Russia launched drones and ballistic missiles at Ukraine. In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, 17 people were injured. In the Sumy region, more than 37,000 consumers lost power due to a hit to a power facility.