Ukraine strikes defense plants deep inside Russia, titanium plant in Urals hit
Cruise missiles reportedly hit the Energia battery plant in Yelets and drones a VSMPO-Avisma plant in Perm. Moscow says it downed 532 drones.
Symbolic image · Photo: Eugene Yakovenko / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Ukraine again attacked defense plants deep inside Russia over the weekend, according to media reports. In the industrial zone of the city of Yelets in the Lipetsk region, the Energia plant was the likely target, Governor Igor Artamonov said, adding that emergency services were at the scene. Monitoring channels reported cruise missiles. According to the Astra Telegram channel, the plant is Russia's largest producer of chemical power sources and supplies batteries for drones and air defense missiles, among other products. It is under sanctions by the U.S., the EU and other countries. There was no initial information on damage.
In the Perm region, a drone attack hit the Avisma plant in Berezniki, according to Ukrainian monitoring channels. It belongs to VSMPO-Avisma, which Ukrinform describes as the world's largest titanium producer and a key supplier to Russia's defense industry. Five employees were injured, according to preliminary information, and three were taken to hospital for examination. Governor Dmitry Makhonin said an industrial facility in the north of the region sustained "minor damage" and continues to operate normally.
Russia's Defense Ministry said at least 532 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight over 22 Russian regions, as well as over Crimea and the Black Sea, according to ABC News. Diplomatic efforts to end the war continue in parallel. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said a possible deal "still needs work" and that the first trilateral meeting in November may be mainly observational.