Second Attack on the ‘Energia’ Factory in Lipetsk Region Reveals Secrets of Russian Military Industry
On the night of July 2 to 3, the Russian city of Yelets, located in the Lipetsk region and more than 330 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, was rocked by powerful explosions, startling local residents. This marks the second attack this year on this critical military-industrial complex site—the 'Energia' factory. According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Russian forces produce essential components at this facility. These include batteries for the 'Iskander' missile systems, cruise missiles, and modules used for drone navigation and missile targeting adjustment. Notably, this industrial complex has previously been targeted; on May 23, Ukrainian Special Forces employed drones to strike the factory, with satellite images from Planet Labs revealing significant structural damages. These ongoing attacks highlight Ukraine’s strategic efforts to weaken Russia’s military capabilities by targeting vital military production sites, thereby undermining the enemy’s operational readiness and technological edge.