Production at a major Russian electronics factory was temporarily halted on Monday, June 9, after a Ukrainian drone strike targeted the facility in the Chuvashia region, regional and military officials confirmed.
The strike hit the VNIIR plant, located about 600 kilometres east of Moscow. The factory is a key player in Russia’s defense industry, reportedly involved in producing components for military equipment, including drone technology.
Chuvashia’s governor, Oleg Nikolayev, said two drones fell within the factory grounds but reported no casualties.
“This morning, Ukrainian attempts to use drones in Chuvashia were detected. Two drones fell on the territory of the VNIIR factory,” Nikolayev wrote on Telegram.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the drones were intercepted, attributing the damage to falling debris. However, Ukraine’s General Staff took credit for a direct strike, calling the VNIIR facility a “military-industrial complex” that manufactures antennas for Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which have been heavily deployed by Russian forces in attacks on Ukrainian cities.
“Strikes on facilities supporting Russia’s aggression will continue until it is completely stopped,” Ukraine’s military said in a statement.
Following the strike, Governor Nikolayev announced a temporary shutdown of factory operations to ensure employee safety.
The VNIIR strike came amid a larger overnight drone offensive. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted 49 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine reported downing “dozens” of incoming Russian drones over its western Rivne region.
The aerial escalation also spilled beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland’s military said it scrambled fighter jets in response to increased drone activity near its airspace, a precaution reflecting growing cross-border tensions.
This latest wave of drone warfare underscores the shifting dynamics of the conflict, as Ukraine increasingly targets Russian infrastructure linked to the war effort.
