Avitek Plant Hit in Kirov; Wildberries Logistics Centers Targeted
On July 24, Ukraine's Defense Forces launched a strike on the Avitek plant in the Russian city of Kirov, approximately 1,250 kilometers from Ukraine's border. This facility produces surface-to-air guided missiles, target drones, ejection seats, and aviation systems. Explosions were reported in Kirov around 7:00 AM local time. Denis Shtilerman, founder of Fire Point, confirmed that a Flamingo cruise missile was used in the operation.
The Avitek plant is involved in manufacturing components for:
- The Tor air defense missile system
- Kh-101 cruise missiles
- Kh-59MK2 cruise missiles
The facility also handles production, repair, and modernization of K-36DM ejection seats for Su-34 and Su-57 fighter jets. Notably, Avitek is under sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, Ukraine, Canada, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
In a separate wave of attacks, Ukrainian drones struck three Wildberries logistics hubs in Saint Petersburg, the Leningrad region, and Simferopol. In Simferopol, explosions began around 11:55 PM. Russian air defense reportedly intercepted 59 drones during these operations. Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko reported three individuals with moderate injuries. Wildberries confirmed that operations at its logistics complexes in Shushary and Utkina Zavod have been temporarily suspended.
The Shushary complex in Saint Petersburg's Pushkin district spans roughly 106,000 square meters. At the Utkina Zavod logistics park near Novosaratovka, fires broke out in Building 4 (a Wildberries warehouse), Building 3 (an undetermined warehouse), and Building 5 (a distribution center for the company Petrovich). This marks at least the sixth attack on Wildberries logistics sites in July, following previous drone strikes on Wildberries warehouses in Kotovsk, Koledino, Elektrostal, Krasnodar, and Nevinnomyssk.
Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi (Madjar), commented: "Today, from Simferopol to Saint Petersburg."
These events underscore the ongoing intensity of military operations between Ukraine and Russia, with strikes targeting strategically significant infrastructure. Attacks on factories producing military equipment and logistics centers may indicate a shift in Ukrainian tactics aimed at weakening the adversary's war-fighting capabilities. The repeated targeting of Wildberries logistics hubs suggests a deliberate effort to disrupt supply chains and support networks for Russian military forces.
The recent strikes by Ukraine have prompted a series of retaliatory actions, highlighting the ongoing conflict and its escalation. In a similar vein, Moscow has targeted Ukrainian fuel stations in response to attacks on its logistics infrastructure. This dynamic underscores the interconnectedness of military strategies on both sides. For a deeper understanding of these developments, see how the situation is evolving in Moscow's counterattacks.