A major arms production hub located in the city of Dzerzhinsk in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region is reported to have been targeted in a Ukrainian drone strike overnight.
"In Nizhny Novgorod Dzerzhinsk, the Sverdlov plant, which produces explosives, was allegedly attacked," Russian independent news outlet SOTA reported on its Telegram channel. It published footage in which loud explosions are audible. Russian or Ukrainian officials haven't commented on the latest reported incident. Newsweek couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the videos, and has contacted the defense ministries of Russia and Ukraine for comment by email.
Russia has been hit with waves of drone strikes since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with some attacks reaching the capital, Moscow. Many strikes have targeted ammunition depots and warehouses. Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks on Russian soil, but the Kremlin has accused Kyiv of attempting to carry out terrorist attacks using drones.
The Sverdlov plant was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State in July 2023 in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. The department describes it as "a large Federal State-owned enterprise in Russia that produces explosives, industrial chemicals, detonators and ammunition." The plant has also been sanctioned by the EU, Great Britain, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine.
The U.S. said it was imposing sanctions on individuals and entities "to degrade Russia's current and future military capabilities, reduce Russia's revenue by targeting its future energy projects, and curb sanctions evasion by targeting those who help Russia procure sensitive material, and curtail Russia's use of the international financial system to further its war."
The ASTRA Telegram channel also reported explosions in the city of Dzerzhinsk, noting that the region is home to the Sverdlov plant. The arms production hub is "a city-forming enterprise that is part of the military-industrial complex of Russia," the channel said.
Local news outlets said the plant is one of the largest Russian manufacturers of industrial explosives, charges for the mining industry, seismic and geophysical work.
Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence, said in July 2023 that drone attacks on Russian soil will continue and increase in scale. He added that they are proof that Putin is unable to control the sky.
Telegram channels reported on February 20 that Russia lost military equipment worth "millions" in a Ukrainian drone strike that targeted a warehouse in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Ukraine's Bulava strike unit destroyed two Russian T-72 tanks, S-60 anti-aircraft guns, a BMP-3 Russian infantry fighting vehicle, Ural-4320 off-road vehicles, and a rare BMPT, also known as the "Terminator." This is an armored vehicle designed to accompany tanks in battle. The information came from a Ukrainian Telegram channel that publishes news on first-person view (FPV) drones in the war, sharing a video of the incident.
Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via worldnews@newsweek.com.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
