NV sources: Ukrainian drones strike major explosives factory in Russia

The facility is one of the leading producers of industrial explosives in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, manufacturing substances such as ammonal, ammonite, and granulite. At least 20 explosions were reported at the site, along with multiple fires. The plant’s management was forced to halt its production processes.

"The SBU continues to carry out precision strikes on Russian facilities that are part of the military-industrial complex and produce weapons for the war against Ukraine," an NV intelligence source said. "Such targets are fully legitimate military objectives."

Earlier, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed that SBU drones also struck the Optic Fiber Systems plant in Saransk, Republic of Mordovia, during the same night.

According to Kovalenko, the plant’s products are used extensively in Russian military systems for communications, data transfer, and establishing secure channels — including those used to control drones and military command networks.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses had allegedly downed 49 drones overnight, including three over Mordovia.