According to Russian authorities, an attack by Ukraine on a factory in the city of Izhevsk has resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left 35 others hospitalised. This incident occurred more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the border.
According to Udmurtia’s governor, Aleksandr Bechalov, ten individuals sustained serious injuries in the recent attack. He also confirmed that he had informed President Vladimir Putin about the incident.
Reports indicate that drones have struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, a military facility believed to manufacture Tor surface-to-air missile systems and radar stations.
According to reports from Ukrainian media, the facility is focused on manufacturing Osa air defence systems and has also made advancements in drone technology.
A Ukrainian official has confirmed that two long-range drones, operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), successfully targeted the Kupol plant from a distance of approximately 1,300 kilometres (807 miles).
A source commented, as reported by Ukrainian media, that “each such special operation reduces the enemy’s offensive potential, disrupts military production chains, and demonstrates that even deep in Russia’s rear, there are no safe zones for its military infrastructure.”
A video that surfaced on social media and has been confirmed by the BBC depicts an explosion occurring on the roof of a building, subsequently releasing a substantial plume of black smoke from a factory-style chimney.
Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, enacted operational restrictions at Izhevsk airport, only to rescind them a few hours later.
The Kupol factory has experienced its second Ukrainian drone attack since November, a previous incident of which did not lead to any casualties.
Moscow persists in executing assaults across Ukraine. Over the weekend, Russia executed an unprecedented strike, deploying 537 drones and missiles targeting multiple sites throughout the nation, including the capital, Kyiv, and the western city of Lviv.
On Monday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the Hero of Ukraine honour posthumously to Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, an F-16 pilot who lost his life while attempting to thwart an aerial assault.
On the battlefield, Russia’s advance in the Sumy region has come to a standstill, while Moscow is shifting its focus towards the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Reports circulating in Russian media, though unverified, indicate that Moscow’s forces have gained control of the first village in the area.
Since May, two rounds of negotiations have been conducted to establish a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, initiated by US President Donald Trump. However, these discussions have not yielded any significant outcomes.
In a statement made last week, President Putin indicated that Russia is prepared to engage in a new round of peace negotiations. However, he noted that the peace proposals put forth by Russia and Ukraine are “absolutely contradictory.”
On Monday, Zelensky reiterated his doubts regarding Putin’s intentions. “Putin has effectively taken nearly six months away from diplomatic efforts… in addition to the entire length of this conflict,” stated the Ukrainian leader.
Russia remains steadfast in its strategy and shows no inclination to seek an exit from the ongoing conflict. In contrast, preparations are underway for new operations, which may extend into European territories.
On Monday, US senior envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg took to X to assert that Russia must not be allowed to “continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.”
Moscow responded promptly, asserting that it was not “interested in stalling anything” and expressing gratitude to the US for its support.