Ukrainian forces target factory in Russia’s Cheboksary involved in Shahed drone production

Ukraine’s General Staff reported the information.

“As part of efforts to reduce the enemy's ability to produce air attack weapons, on the night of June 9, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces, together with other Defense Forces units, struck the facilities of JSC VNIIR-Progress and LLC ABS Elektro in the city of Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, Russia,” the military reported.

They said the targeted site is part of Russia’s military-industrial complex and produces navigation equipment. In particular, it manufactures Kometa adaptive antennas used in Shahed-type drones, as well as unified planning and correction modules (UMPK) for guided aerial bombs (KAB) and other precision weapons.

The General Staff confirmed that the facility was hit by at least two drones, causing a large fire.

In response, airport operations were restricted in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, and Tambov.

"Strikes on facilities that support Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine will continue until it is completely stopped," the General Staff stated.

Russia's reports

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that 13 drones were shot down over the Kursk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, 9 over the Voronezh and Oryol regions, 2 over the Bryansk region and the Chuvash Republic, and one over the Belgorod region.

Residents of Voronezh, Samara, and Tambov regions also reported hearing explosions.

In Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic — over 970 kilometers from the Ukrainian border — local authorities confirmed a drone attack. A fire broke out in the city.

Later, the head of the Chuvash Republic said two drones allegedly crashed at the VNIIR facility, prompting the company to suspend operations. Another drone crashed in nearby fields in the Cheboksary and Krasnoarmeysky districts.

According to Russian media outlet ASTRA, the VNIIR facility produces Kometa antennas for the Russian military. These antennas help protect Russian drones from Ukrainian electronic warfare.

According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, the Progress plant in Cheboksary is part of Russia’s missile production cycle. He said the plant makes electromechanical drives, hydraulic systems, and control units for heavy military equipment — from self-propelled howitzers to Iskander missile systems. Without these parts, the missiles cannot hit their targets.

In addition, the Progress plant supplies guidance, stabilization, and flight control systems that are built into strike platforms during assembly.

Kovalenko also confirmed that the company produces Kometa modules—Russian satellite navigation systems that work with GLONASS and GPS and are protected against signal jamming.

These modules are used in Iskander-M tactical missiles, Kalibr, Kh-101 and Kh-69 cruise missiles, gliding bombs (UMPK), Orlan-10 and Lancet drones, and the newer versions of Shahed drones.

“A very juicy target,” Kovalenko said.