Victorious news on 769th day of war: Ukrainian drones hit Shahed factory in Russia, US wants to produce twice as much ammo to support Ukrainian army

Drones hit a factory producing Shahed UAVs in Russia

On April 2, the authorities of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, which is located more than 1,000 km from Ukraine, reported a drone attack on enterprises in Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk. It is reported that Ukraine's military intelligence attacked a plant for the assembly of Russian Shahed strike drones, which the Russians mark as Geran-2. 

The strike caused significant damage to production facilities.

The Tatarstan authorities confirm the drone attack on the Yelabuga enterprises. According to them, there was no serious damage, and the technological process of the enterprises was not disrupted.

However, in Yelabuga, seven people have been reported injured as a result of the destruction of the building.

Russians are sharing a video on social media showing a drone crashing into a building, causing a large explosion.

In addition to the Shahed factory, drones attacked the Tatarstan oil refinery complex in Nizhnekamsk. A drone hit one of the installations. A fire broke out at the refinery.

A power substation in Sevastopol was damaged

On the night of Tuesday, April 2, explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol, leaving some residents without electricity. It later turned out to be the result of a power substation being blown up by Ukrainian intelligence.

According to eyewitnesses, two explosions were heard in the city. After that, the electricity went out in the area.

"Something exploded twice loudly around 2:05 a.m. The lights and power went out in the area," the source said.

Later, local media reported a power outage in a number of Sevastopol districts. Residents wrote on social media that the blackout was caused by an accident at a substation. 

At 7:48 a.m., the so-called Sevastopolenergo published information that a technological disruption in the power grid had occurred between 2:07 a.m. and 6:42 a.m. on April 2.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that representatives of Ukrainian intelligence blew up a power substation in occupied Sevastopol. It is noted that as a result of the attack, the power substation was put out of action.

At the same time, the occupation governor of the city, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that the statements about the power plant being blown up were fake. According to him, it was a technological violation at the district substation.

US wants to double ammunition production to help Ukraine

The United States plans to double the production of artillery ammunition to supply it to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

The Pentagon has already signed a contract for the construction of three production lines in Texas to manufacture parts for 155 mm ammunition. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The report says that the US will increase the production of US shells by purchasing Turkish explosives. Turkish subcontractors will also be involved in the production. The Pentagon has already signed a contract to build three production lines with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The first plant will begin construction in June this year.

Earlier, the US Department of Defense said it wanted to double the monthly production of 155 mm shells from 28,000 shells per month in October 2023 to about 60,000 shells per month in October 2024. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces set a record for destroyed enemy artillery systems

The Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed a record number of Russia artillery systems in March. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on April 2.

In just one month, Ukrainian defenders targeted 976 Russian artillery systems.

"This is the highest figure for a single month since the start of the full-scale invasion," Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said.

Strikes on oil refineries do the most damage to Russia

Strikes on Russian primary oil refineries are extremely effective, without them refineries do not work, said Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Centre, on Espreso TV channel. 

"A primary oil refining unit at a refinery is a very attractive place to strike, because without it, the refinery does not work. There is high temperature, heated oil and high pressure. Accordingly, any strike causes a large fire, which effectively destroys the column. This distillation column is worth at least USD 110-130 million in peacetime alone. It would take a year or a year and a half to produce it, even if the country was not under sanctions.  Of course, they have learned to evade the sanctions and will most likely find a way to get the equipment they need, but it will be twice as expensive as the market price, and most importantly for us, it will take longer. That is why these strikes are the most effective in terms of paralyzing their oil refining. These are ideal targets for strikes that do the most damage to the functioning of the enterprises," Kharchenko said.

According to him, Russia is affected by such strikes. After all, the opportunity to finance the Russian army is being reduced.