Ukraine announced a successful series of long-range drone attacks targeting critical Russian infrastructure deep within the country.
Largest Explosive Plant
The attacks took place on October 20 and were reported by Ukrainian media such as the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian drones struck Russia's largest explosives plant, located in the city of Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod region, approximately 900 kilometers from Ukraine's borders.
The Sverdlov Plant, which produces explosives, ammunition, and aviation warheads crucial to Russia’s war effort, was targeted, according to a source in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
The Sverdlov Plant has been under U.S. and EU sanctions since 2023, with the U.S. accusing it of acquiring materials to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Airfield Also Hit
Ukraine also reported an overnight drone strike on the Lipetsk-2 airfield in Russia’s Lipetsk region, about 400 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The strike targeted fuel depots, ammunition storage facilities, and aircraft, including Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 jets stationed at the airbase. This airfield plays a significant role in Russia’s air operations against Ukraine.
These drone operations were coordinated by the SBU, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), and Special Operations Forces. The Ukrainian military has increasingly relied on homemade drones for long-range strikes, aiming to gradually degrade Russia’s combat capabilities.
While Ukraine frequently claims success in such deep attacks, verifying the extent of the damage inflicted remains difficult due to the limited access to these sites.
