Drones strike major Russian explosives plant in overnight attack
Overnight from Saturday to Sunday in Dzerzhinsk, in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation, drones attacked the Sverdlov Plant, a state enterprise producing explosives, reported the Ukrainska Pravda portal, citing Russian channels on Telegram.
8:44 AM EDT, October 20, 2024
Local residents reported strong explosions and white smoke in the area of the plant. According to eyewitnesses, the first loud explosions were heard in the sky over the city at around 7:30 PM (Eastern Time).
In total, approximately 10 explosions were heard, with a few-minute intervals between them. Sounds of machine guns were also reported. So far, no official information has been provided.
One of the largest plants
The plant is one of the largest Russian producers of industrial explosives, propellant for the mining industry, perforating charges for the oil and gas industry, as well as for seismic and geophysical operations.
The plant was placed on the Ukrainian sanctions list "for supporting actions that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine."
On June 23, 2023, the factory was added to the EU sanctions list and is also subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Switzerland.
