Russian Missile Weapons Factory, Chemical Plant Targeted in Drone Strikes

Russia said early Tuesday that its air defense systems had downed Ukrainian-launched drones overnight in four regions, including Moscow.

"An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an aircraft-type UAV on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped," Russia's Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Telegram. "Duty air defense systems destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the territory of the Moscow, Tambov, Bryansk and Oryol regions." Newsweek has been unable as yet to verify these claims.

Russia has been hit with waves of drone strikes this year, with 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 Russian Defense Ministry didn't elaborate on Tuesday on whether the downed Ukrainian drones had caused any injuries or damage. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Russian Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to Russia's security services, reported that the drone in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, fell on the territory of a chemical plant.

Ukrainian online newspaper Strana.ua, as well as Baza, said that a missile weapons factory in the Moscow region, KB Mashinostroyeniya, was targeted in the overnight attack.

Newsweek couldn't independently verify those reports.

Andrei Klychkov, the governor of the Oryol region, said a drone was shot down in the morning in the northwest, adding that "there was no damage to infrastructure and no casualties."

Governors of the remaining regions have not yet commented on the reports of the downed Ukrainian drones.

Newsweek has contacted the foreign ministries of Russia and Ukraine for comment via email.

In May, Russia blamed Ukraine for a drone attack on Moscow. It marked the first time the capital was hit in a large-scale drone strike since the war began in February 2022, and damaged residential buildings.

In that incident, targets included a residence of Putin and the mansions of his entourage on Rublyovka, a prestigious residential area in the western suburbs. The independent Russian Telegram channel "We can explain" analyzed where the drones were spotted.

Putin told the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) at the time that he was concerned the drone attacks were an attempt by Ukraine to evoke a response from Russia. "They are provoking us into taking mirror actions. We will see what to do about it," the Russian leader said. Kyiv didn't claim responsibility for that attack.

Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence, said in July 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.

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