Camilla Jessen
Ukrainian drones struck a major industrial facility.
Ukrainian drones struck a major industrial facility in the Russian city of Yelets overnight on May 23, causing fires and injuring at least eight people, Russian officials said Thursday.
The targeted facility is believed to be the Energia plant, Russia’s largest manufacturer of chemical power sources, including lithium-ion batteries used in drones and other military hardware.
This was reported by The Moscow Times.
Fire and Injuries in Industrial Zone
Igor Artamonov, governor of the Lipetsk region, confirmed that debris from downed drones fell in an industrial area.
“Eight people were injured. They are all receiving the necessary medical care,” Artamonov said in a statement.
He also noted damage to a nearby residential building, where debris struck the roof and affected 20 apartments.
No casualties were reported among residents.
Although Artamonov did not specify the enterprise affected, local media and residents identified the site as the Energia plant.
Independent monitoring outlet Exilenova+ confirmed the facility as the target, citing post-strike imagery and eyewitness reports.
Energia plays a significant role in Russia’s defense industry.
The plant manufactures chemical energy sources used in aviation, maritime, and military applications. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company began producing lithium-ion batteries in the widely used 18650 format — a key component in drone manufacturing.
Energia’s leadership has emphasized its contribution to Russia’s ongoing war effort.
In a March interview with Kommersant, company CEO Alexey Nizkous said the plant was fulfilling state defense contracts as a top priority.
“We work in the rear, fulfilling the state defense order — this is a priority for us,” he stated.
Second Major Strike This Week
The latest attack follows a similar Ukrainian drone strike two days earlier on the Bolkhov Semiconductor Devices Plant (BZPP) in Russia’s Oryol region.
That facility manufactures microelectronics for civilian and military use. No injuries were reported in that incident, though a fire broke out at the plant.
Russia has yet to comment on the extent of the damage to Energia or the broader implications for its drone and battery production.
Ukrainian officials did not immediately confirm responsibility for the strikes but have regularly stated that targeting Russian military-industrial infrastructure is part of their broader effort to weaken Moscow’s war capabilities.