Ukrainian drones hit key Russian ammo component factory

After attacks on Russia's oil industry, Ukrainians are expanding their drone strikes to other sectors of Russian industry. Recent targets have included distilleries and chemical plants in Tula that produce explosives. Now, the focus has shifted to the nitrocellulose factory in Kazan, located about 620 miles from the Ukrainian border.

Several buildings were hit, but the full extent of the damage is still unknown. This suggests that even after months of drone attacks, Russians are struggling to secure all critical facilities in their deep interior. They face the dilemma of either leaving such sites undefended or reallocating equipment and personnel away from the front lines.

In the case of the facility in Kazan, at least one Pantsir-S1 system was operational, as evidenced by the nearby burned-out boosters of the two-stage 57E6 missiles. However, this defense proved inadequate, allowing several drones from the "Beaver" family, such as the UJ-22 "Airborne" or "Rubaka," to penetrate.

Nitrocellulose is the primary component of most gunpowders used in ammunition production. It can be the main ingredient in single-base gunpowder or one of several components in multi-base gunpowder. Without gunpowder, there's no ammunition for any rifled weapon since gunpowder combustion is necessary to generate the pressure needed to launch a projectile from the barrel of a rifle, automatic cannon, tank, or howitzer.

While alternative composite powders based on materials like hexogen have been developed recently, nitrocellulose remains essential for many manufacturers. Its production is complex, as even the slightest changes in gunpowder composition can make the ammunition ineffective or even dangerous for the operators.

For instance, inadequate gunpowder results in a lower muzzle velocity for the fired projectile, leading to reduced range in artillery. On the other hand, an overly powerful charge can cause the barrel or breech of a gun to rupture.

It's important to note that Russia currently meets 60 percent of its ammunition needs with imports from North Korea because local production capacity is inadequate. While increasing the output of cast shell casings or bombs might be feasible in the short term, boosting the production of explosives or gunpowder is much more challenging.

Thus, successful strikes on such facilities significantly affect production capabilities. Furthermore, Russians are compelled to assign units to guard these sites, which could otherwise be deployed in Ukraine.