Production at one of Russia’s main electronic component factories was temporarily halted on Monday following a drone strike in the Chuvashia region, about 600 kilometers east of Moscow. The incident marks a new escalation in the ongoing technological warfare between Ukraine and Russia.
Regional governor Oleg Nikolayev reported that two drones struck the VNIIR plant, a facility known for manufacturing antennas for Shahed drones — Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles frequently used by Russia in its assaults on Ukrainian cities. In a statement on Telegram, Nikolayev said there were no casualties and confirmed that production had been suspended “to ensure the safety of employees.”
Ukraine’s General Staff claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that the targeted facility was part of Russia’s military-industrial complex and involved in the assembly of critical drone components. Ukrainian officials warned that attacks on infrastructure supporting Russia’s military aggression would continue “until its complete dismantling.”
The offensive extended beyond Chuvashia. Overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 49 Ukrainian drones. Simultaneously, Ukraine reported shooting down “dozens” of Russian drones over the western Rivne region, underscoring a tit-for-tat escalation in aerial attacks that has intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.
The fallout from the strikes also reached beyond the borders of the warring nations. Poland, Ukraine’s western neighbor and a NATO member, scrambled fighter jets in response to missile and drone activity near its airspace. Poland’s Operational Command said via social media that the move aimed to “safeguard the integrity of Polish territory.”
Meanwhile, inside Russia, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of two citizens accused of plotting an attack on a defense industry facility in the Moscow region. The suspects, born in 1997 and 1999, allegedly acted on instructions from a Ukrainian terrorist organization. According to the FSB, they infiltrated the plant as employees, conducted reconnaissance, and prepared explosives using hidden materials. They were detained inside the facility and reportedly confessed to the charges. They now face charges of high treason, which carries severe penalties in Russia.
In a separate operation, Russian intelligence services also reported the detention of six individuals accused of attempting to illegally export Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopter parts to Ukraine and other countries. These arrests reflect Moscow’s broader efforts to curb the flow of military technology abroad amid the ongoing conflict.
