Ukrainian drones hit a major Russian steel factory overnight, causing a large fire, a Kyiv source said on Saturday, on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He said a fire apparently caused by a drone strike had been extinguished at the plant, operated by Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk (NLMK) NLMK.MM, and there had been no casualties.🇺🇦⚔️🇷🇺 In a well-coordinated operation by the SBU and the Directorate of Intelligence, Ukrainian drones struck the metallurgical plant located in the city of Lipetsk, Russian Federation. This facility is known to be affiliated with the Russian military-industrial complex. pic.twitter.com/irbnQi4G1S
— Astraia Intel (@astraiaintel) February 24, 2024
The Ukrainian source told Reuters the attack, a joint operation by GUR military intelligence and the SBU security service, had caused a major fire and staff had been evacuated.
“Raw materials from this enterprise are used to manufacture Russian missiles, artillery, and drones. Therefore, it is a legitimate goal for Ukraine,” the source said, without specifying the location of the plant.
Video posted on social media purporting to be from Lipetsk showed an explosion, with orange flames illuminating the nighttime sky.
The plant’s production was suspended while an investigative team works onsite, said a source familiar with the matter. The visible damage was not significant, the source added.Footage of the takeoff of one of the Ukrainian kamikaze drones "Fierce", which attacked the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant in Lipetsk tonight.
— Mykhailo Rohoza (@MykhailoRohoza) February 24, 2024
The exact technical characteristics of this UAV are unknown, but open sources report a range of 1,000 kilometers and the ability to… pic.twitter.com/0NmO8SOlzy
The Lipetsk plant specializes in flat steel, making 80% of NLMK’s steel products.
