Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russian military heartland
Ukrainian drones attacked a facility in Izhevsk, the capital of Udmurtia, over 780 miles from the border with Ukraine, where Russian air defence systems are manufactured. This marks the first such attack in this region.
7:33 AM EST, November 18, 2024
The attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles on military facilities in Russia occurred overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The drones reportedly hit the production hall of the facility in Izhevsk, the capital of Udmurtia, over 780 miles from the border with Ukraine, according to Defence Express.
Izhevsk is renowned for producing weapons and military equipment, including the globally famous AK-47 automatic rifles.
Personnel evacuated
According to reports, one person was injured as a result of the attack. The injured individual is an employee.
The head of the Udmurtia Republic, Aleksandr Brechalov, reported receiving news of an explosion on Lenin Street, where the facility is located and where, among other things, air defense systems are manufactured.
"The factory windows were shattered, but there was no serious damage. Personnel were evacuated. Unfortunately, one person was injured and is currently hospitalized in moderate condition," Brechalov stated, adding that the injured employee suffered a head injury.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation, also conveyed information about the attack, as quoted by the Espreso portal. It reported that "unidentified drones attacked the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk, Russia, where Tor anti-aircraft systems and radar components are manufactured."
Novaya Gazeta reports that Russian drones are also manufactured at the Kupol arms plants. Notably, this is the first recorded drone attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Udmurtia.
