Ukraine hit a key Russian plant that makes components for Moscow’s missiles as a drone swarm disrupted air travel across the Russian capital, grounding flights and forcing an evacuation at a skyscraper housing several government ministries.
The main production building of Proton-Electrotex in the Russian city of Orel, roughly 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, was blown up Friday by Ukrainian cruise missiles, The Kyiv Independent reported.
The plant produces semiconductor devices, LEDs and electronic components for equipment used to build Russian weapons systems.
Massive explosions lit up billowing black clouds of smoke drifting into the sky after the attack, video published by Exilenova showed.
“This complicates the production of components for cruise and ballistic missiles, with which the enemy hits Ukrainian cities,” Ukraine’s general staff said in a statement, according to the newspaper.
Three unidentified people died in the attack, said regional Gov. Andrei Klychkov. However, those people reportedly were not at the Proton-Elextrotex building but died from a fire caused by the attack.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, 85 flights were canceled and 229 more were delayed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo on Saturday due to drone incursions. Flights resumed at 5 p.m. local time.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 17 drones were shot down as they were headed for the Russian capital, sparking an evacuation of the IQ-quarter skyscraper in the Moscow’s business district, the newspaper reported.
The building houses several Russian government ministries including the Digital Development Ministry, Economic Development Ministry, and the Industry and Trade Ministry.
The disruption marked another round of aviation chaos for Moscow, where drone threats have repeatedly forced temporary airport closures during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The attacks came as the White House announced a separate diplomatic effort to ease conditions for civilians in Ukraine.
First Lady Melania Trump helped secure a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, a Ukrainian city under Russian occupation, her office said Friday.
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin Oct. 29 and is intended to allow elderly civilians to leave and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, to enter the city, according to the East Wing.
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