Ukraine launches over 100 drones into Russia and targets key explosives plant

Ukraine attacked a Russian “explosives plant” overnight, Kyiv officials said on Sunday, in another drone attack that hit deep behind enemy lines.

The Russian SHOT Telegram channel reported that drones attempted to strike the Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise in Dzerzhinsk city, Nizhny Novgorod region, around 250 miles east of Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a total of 110 drones were destroyed in the overnight barrage across seven Russian regions. Many of the drones targeted Kursk, where 43 drones were reportedly shot down – a region inside Russia where Ukraine launched a surprise attack in August.

The Russian defence ministry said on Telegram that eight Ukrainian drones were destroyed over Nizhny Novgorod. Residents reported powerful explosions and white smoke in the area of ​​the plant, SHOT reported, while dramatic footage appeared to show large explosions coming directly from the facility.

The state-owned Sverdlov Plant has been under sanctions by the UK since February, in what the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) described as “largest enterprise in the Russian ammunition industry”. The factory is linked to “manufacturing munitions such as rocket launch systems, missiles, explosives and other critical goods used in military equipment”, according to the DBT.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Ukraine had also struck the Lipetsk-2 airfield, located over 250 miles from the Ukrainian border.

The attack targeted ammunition depots, fuel storage facilities and aircraft on an airfield known to be home to Russian Su-34, Su-35 and MiG-31 aircraft, it added. Lipetsk-2 was also struck by Ukrainian drones in August.

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that debris fell in the Ramensky district of Moscow region but there was no damage or casualties reported.

The attack is the latest Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russian territory. With only marginal gains made across the frontline as winter fast approaches, Kyiv is focusing much of its war effort on targeting Russian airbases, arms plants and oil refineries.

Ukraine is currently asking for permission from the US to use western-made ATACMS missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory, in a new front of the war that could leave Russia’s war machine exposed to long-range ballistic missiles that have a range of up-to 190 miles.

Kyiv has also repeatedly called on the UK to permit the use of Storm Shadow missiles which have a range of 155 miles.

In the meantime, Ukraine is relying on its domestically produced “suicide drones” to target Russia. Earlier in October, another Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze a Russian weapons depot storing North Korean ammunition in Bryansk Oblast, Ukraine’s General Staff reported.

Meanwhile in Ukraine, 17 people were injured in Kryvyi Rih when the Ukrainian city was hit with two Russian ballistic missiles, officials said. The attack late on Saturday damaged homes and businesses, said local administration head Oleksandr Vilkul.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 49 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles in total overnight. It said 31 of the drones were shot down over 12 regions, including the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while another 13 disappeared from radar – suggesting they were knocked out by electronic defences.

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In a statement on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched some 800 guided aerial bombs and more than 500 attack drones over Ukraine in the past week alone.

“Every day, Russia strikes our cities and communities. It is deliberate terror from the enemy against our people,” he said.

Mr Zelensky went on to make another plea to Western allies to replenish its dwindling supply of missiles.

He added: “A world united in defence can stand up to this deliberate terror. Ukraine needs more air defence systems and long-range capabilities. I am grateful to all partners who understand this and support us.”