Ukraine conducts most intense strike on Russia, amid Starlink issues

Today there is dangerous news from the Russian Federation. Here Ukraine has launched a devastating wave of storm shadow strikes against Russia's military industrial infrastructure, targeting factories responsible for producing essential components for missiles, aircraft and military vehicles. The latest attacks struck Voronezh, where Ukrainian missiles and drones targeted two major industrial facilities, the Voronezh aircraft factory and the Petrochemical Plant. Russian Governor Alexander Gusev claimed that air defenses intercepted more than 100 drones across the region, including more than 70 over Voronezh itself.

However, eyewitness footage showed smoke rising near the petrochemical facility, while fires and damage were reported over the other factory. Ukraine's drone and missile manufacturer Firepoint confirmed the attack against both targets, although the full extent of industrial damage remains to be determined. The petrochemical facility produces almost 400,000 tons of synthetic rubber and related products annually. These materials have military applications, including aircraft tires, heavy vehicle components, armored vehicle seals and specialized products used in missile manufacturing.

The nearby aviation plant belongs to Russia's Ilyushin production structure, making it another significant military industrial target, and disrupting such facilities threatens the supply chain's support in Russian weapons production, even when the factories themselves do not assemble finished missiles. This attack coincides with the renewed British support for Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities, following disruptions affecting Starlink and Starshield services, which complicated Ukrainian military operations and prompted London to replenish Ukraine's Storm Shadow cruise missile stockpile.

The agreement followed discussions between Zelensky and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while the number of missiles and their delivery schedule remain undisclosed for security reasons. Storm Shadow is a British-French air-launched cruise missile designed to destroy heavily protected stationary targets, as its 450 kg warhead allows Ukrainian aircraft to attack important military infrastructure far behind Russian lines.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has demonstrated exactly why additional long-range weapons like Storm Shadow matter, as the Ukrainian forces struck the important Energia plant in Yeltsi, Lipetsk Oblast, which manufactures specialized batteries and power supplies used in Russian Iskandarom ballistic missiles, guided aerial bombs and other military equipment. Analysts identify Energia as the sole producer of certain batteries used in guidance and correction modules for Russian aerial bombs, and footage following the Storm Shadow strike with four missiles showed extensive damage to a production building, including fire damage across multiple floors.

Ukraine's general staff confirmed that a workshop producing power sources was hit, dealing critical damage to Russian war efforts because sophisticated weapons depend on specialized components that cannot be replaced immediately. Destroying battery production capacity disrupts several Russian weapons programs simultaneously, delaying production even if missile assembly facilities remain operational.

Another major strike targeted the Proton electronics plant in Oryol, as Ukraine's general staff confirmed the attack, following footage of multiple Storm Shadow missile impacts within several seconds, and large explosions was published by Russian social media channels. Proton manufactures semiconductor devices and specialized electronic components reportedly used in Iskandarom missiles, S-71 cover cruise missiles, and Panzer air defense systems.

Subsequent footage showed extensive destruction, including collapsed roofing and damaged production areas, as the factory became unusable, again creating bottlenecks extending across multiple Russian weapons programs. Overall, Ukraine is increasingly targeting the industrial infrastructure, enabling Russia's continuing attacks, rather than merely intercepting weapons after launch. Despite Starlink-related difficulties, European support is helping Ukraine maintain long-range strike pressure, with the timing of British Storm Shadow missile deliveries matching the intense strikes on Russian military production in the last days.

The strategic message is clear, as Russia's factories are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and Ukraine intends to disrupt the production of weapons used against its cities before those weapons reach the battlefield, to compensate for the disruption of Starlink and the continuing lack of interceptor missiles for and other air defense systems. Get access to our complete library of members-only reports and strategic updates for just $4.99.

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