Ukraine hits suspected Iskander missile factory deep inside Russia amid escalating drone war

Ukraine hits missile plant deep inside Russia

Ukrainian drones hit an industrial facility deep inside Russia on Saturday, with a Russian news channel claiming the site was a major state-owned missile factory.

The strike occurred in Russia’s Udmurt Republic and left 11 people injured, three of whom were taken to hospital, according to a Telegram statement by Sergei Bagin, the region’s health minister.

“One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones” launched by Ukraine, regional head Alexander Brechalov said in a separate Telegram post. He said the attack caused injuries and damage but did not name the facility or provide additional details.

The unofficial Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that the target was the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a significant state defence enterprise. Astra said its assessment was based on analysis of videos shared by local residents.

There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

The Votkinsk plant, located more than 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) from Ukraine, manufactures Iskander ballistic missiles — frequently used in attacks on Ukraine — as well as nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Other Russian Telegram channels circulated images and videos they said were filmed by residents of Votkinsk, showing thick black smoke billowing from an industrial complex and shattered windows in nearby buildings.

Another unofficial channel, SHOT, which often cites security service sources, said locals reported hearing at least three explosions overnight along with what they described as the buzzing sound of drones.

The main passenger airport in the regional capital, Izhevsk, along with airports in neighbouring areas, temporarily halted operations early Saturday, Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said.

No progress in peace talks

The strike came days after the latest U.S.-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv over Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no sign of a breakthrough, as the war’s fourth anniversary approaches next week.

The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organized by Washington, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but which also made no major headway. Expectations for significant progress in Geneva were low.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 120 drones and one ballistic missile overnight into Saturday, Ukraine’s Air Force said. Ukrainian forces shot down 106 drones, while the missile and 13 drones struck targets in 11 locations in the country, the statement said.

Oleh Kiper, the head of Ukraine's Odesa region on the Black Sea, said drones damaged civilian and energy infrastructure facilities in the region, including a secondary school and an energy company's warehouses. Two people were also injured, he said in a statement on Telegram.

The southern port city of Odesa and surrounding region have been frequent targets for Russian attacks. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said tens of thousands of Odesa's residents were left without heating and running water.

In remarks published on social media on Monday evening, Zelenskyy said Moscow should be “held accountable” for the relentless strikes, which he said undermine the U.S. push for peace.