Help rescue animals from the front line — shop our Companion Collection 🐾

Shop Now
War

Ukraine hits Russian drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast

• 2 min read
Drone debris on the ground after a Ukrainian drone attack in occupied Rostov oblast.
Photo for illustrative purposes. Drone debris on the ground after a drone attack carried out by Ukraine targeted Rostov-on-Don in Russia, on Aug. 14, 2025. (Vladimir Aleksandrov/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ukraine's General Staff reported on Oct. 17 that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military drone manufacturing plant in Rostov Oblast the day before.

According to the report, the strike targeted a production and storage facility belonging to Roboavia, a company that develops and manufactures drones for the Russian military, near the settlement of Lenina in Rostov Oblast.

Among the drones it produces are the Sarych, which uses video and thermal imaging equipment for surveillance, and the Klin, a loitering munition designed to strike targets, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

Roboavia is linked to Russia's Era Military Innovation Complex, a Defense Ministry project focused on developing military technology.

The General Staff said the strike was intended to interfere with drone production and deliveries to Russian forces. The extent of the damage and its result on operations remains unconfirmed.

The military also reported that Ukrainian forces struck a logistics warehouse used by a Russian missile brigade near Latyshi in Bryansk Oblast on Oct. 12.

The Ukrainian military said the strikes were aimed at aimed at disrupting UAV production and supply to Russian forces.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted facilities supporting Russia's war effort, including defense manufacturing plants and military supply infrastructure.

T
Tamara Nowakowsky

News Editor, North America

Tamara Nowakowsky is an editor on the North America desk at the Kyiv Independent. She is a Canadian journalist with more than two decades of experience across radio, television, print, digital media, and communications. Her previous work includes reporting for CBC Radio and Television, serving as editor-in-chief of Long Beach Magazine in Long Beach, California, and hosting travel and adventure segments on CKUA Radio. She has also worked in communications and media relations, including with the David Suzuki Foundation.

Read more
News Feed
Show More