On June 11, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles conducted a successful strike on the Tambov Gunpowder Plant in the city of Kotovsk, russia. This marked another in a series of long-range attacks targeting the heart of russia's military-industrial complex, over 350 kilometers from Ukraine's border.
The strike was carried out by the 14th Separate UAV Regiment, according to official reports. The operation successfully hit the facility, leading to a fire, with damage still being assessed.
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The Tambov Gunpowder Plant is considered one of the cornerstones of russia's defense industry, supplying propellants and explosive materials for small arms, artillery systems, and rocket launchers. It also produces collodion cotton (colloxylin), a key component in the manufacturing of explosives and specialized military-grade chemicals.
Lieutenant Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, emphasized the plant's importance to the war effort.
"Since the start of the full-scale invasion, production at this facility has significantly increased," he noted, calling the enterprise one of the main suppliers of explosives to russian forces.
The strike reportedly caused ignition at the site, though the full scale of destruction is still being verified. Russian emergency protocols were immediately activated, a high-alert defense and lockdown procedure, along with the temporary shutdown of airports in Kaluga and Saratov, suggesting widespread disruption and panic.
The facility's location, deep inside russian territory, underscores the growing reach and sophistication of Ukrainian long-range drone capabilities. Striking such a heavily guarded military target demonstrates the ongoing evolution of Ukraine's asymmetric warfare strategies.
This is not the first time Ukrainian drones have reached strategic targets far beyond the frontlines. However, each successful strike on facilities like the Tambov plant signals a new phase of the war: one where logistics, industrial capacity, and production lines are now within the scope of precision Ukrainian attacks.
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