Following a drone strike by Ukraine on a military facility in Izhevsk, Russia, three fatalities and numerous injuries were reported. The attack targets the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, known for producing military equipment, indicating Ukraine's continued efforts to disrupt Russian military capabilities.
Ukrainian Drone Assault Leaves Three Dead in Central Russia
Ukrainian Drone Assault Leaves Three Dead in Central Russia
An unprecedented drone attack by Ukraine targets a military factory in Izhevsk, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries.
Three individuals lost their lives, and 35 were hospitalized following a drone assault by Ukraine on a military factory in Izhevsk, located over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the border. Udmurtia's governor, Aleksandr Bechalov, confirmed that of the injured, ten sustained serious injuries. President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the incident.
The drones reportedly struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, a key military manufacturing site known for producing Tor surface-to-air missile systems and radar installations. Ukrainian media indicates that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) operated two long-range drones targeting the facility from approximately 1,300 kilometers (807 miles) away. A source cited by Ukrainian media stated, "Each such special operation reduces the enemy's offensive potential... and demonstrates that even deep in Russia's rear, there are no safe zones for its military infrastructure."
Visual evidence from social media, validated by the BBC, displayed an explosion erupting from the factory's roof, with thick black smoke billowing from the site. In response, Russia's civil aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, briefly imposed operational restrictions at Izhevsk airport before revoking them hours later. This incident marks the second drone attack on the Kupol factory since November, with the earlier strike resulting in no casualties.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their aerial assault against Ukraine, launching a staggering 537 drones and missiles over the weekend that targeted several locations, including Kyiv and Lviv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently posthumously awarded the Hero of Ukraine to Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, who died fending off the aerial barrages.
On the battlefield, while Russian advances in the Sumy region seem to have stalled, there are indications that they are seeking to control the eastern Dnipropetrovsk area, with unconfirmed reports of gaining ground in the region. Efforts at brokering a ceasefire through two rounds of talks facilitated by US President Donald Trump since May have been fruitless. Last week, Putin expressed willingness for new negotiations but remarked on the stark contradictions in peace proposals from both sides.
Zelensky has expressed his doubts regarding Putin's true intentions, saying, “Putin has already stolen practically half a year from diplomacy... on top of the entire duration of this war.” The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Russia remains inflexible in its approach to the conflict. US senior envoy Keith Kellogg echoed these sentiments, criticizing Russia's continued military actions while expressing a facade of seeking peace. In response, Moscow insisted that it is not stalling the negotiation process and thanked the US for its support.
