Drones targeted the Smolensk aircraft factory. What did it produce, and why is it significant for Russia?
On the night of Tuesday, January 21, drones attacked the Russian city of Smolensk. The primary target was a local aviation plant that manufactures and upgrades military aircraft for the Russian army, including Su-25 assault planes.
The strike on this strategic facility was confirmed by Andrey Kovalenko, head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, on his Telegram channel. A significant fire broke out at the enterprise.
According to Kovalenko, the Smolensk Aviation Plant plays a crucial role in maintaining the combat readiness of Russian military aviation. The facility not only produces new aircraft but also provides major repairs and maintenance for existing equipment. This enables the Russians to continue using outdated aircraft models.
The enterprise has also established close cooperation with other defense industry plants in Russia. It supplies components and participates in the development of modern aviation systems, says the head of the CPD.
"Each strike on such a plant will undermine Russia's ability to keep its aviation in a combat-ready state," Kovalenko emphasized.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, reported the successful interception of all drones by air defense systems. However, local residents dispute this information. According to their reports, a massive fire erupted at the aviation plant as a result of the drone attack.
Furthermore, one of the drones was shot down over a residential building. Debris from the UAV and missiles fell onto the roof of a high-rise building, leading to a fire. Photos and video materials confirm this incident. There is no information about casualties resulting from the actions of the Russian air defense.
Recall that earlier, "Telegraph" reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully targeted another facility in Russia. It is reported that the drones hit their target accurately.