Ukrainian Drones Strike High-Profile Russian Weapons Plant Twice in Three Days, Halting Production

A key Russian weapons manufacturing plant in Russia’s Tula region that had only recently been visited by the Russian dictator himself has halted operations after being targeted by Ukrainian drones twice in the past 3 days. Ukraine launched two successful drone strikes on the Shipunov Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) in Tula—within the span of 72 hours, forcing the facility to suspend operations entirely. The factory is a key part of Russia’s high-precision weapons production.

The first strike occurred on June 18, when five drones reportedly targeted multiple sections of the facility. According to regional emergency service sources cited by Russian media, the attack damaged an electrical substation, three storage warehouses containing finished products, and an administrative building. A fire broke out on the premises, covering an area of approximately 400 square meters.

Just two days later, during the night of June 20, the site was hit again. This time, a drone reportedly struck a loading hangar used for shipping completed weapons systems. The blast damaged the roof and walls of the structure. Local authorities claimed that some drones were intercepted, but Ukrainian drones still penetrated Russian air defenses to reach the facility—twice.

Operations at the plant have now been suspended, at least temporarily, due to the scale of the destruction.

KBP Tula is no ordinary target. It is one of the crown jewels of the Russian military-industrial complex. A subsidiary of the Rostec-owned “High-Precision Systems” holding, the enterprise develops guided missile systems for the Russian Army, Navy, and Aerospace Forces. It also produces air defense systems, automatic cannons, and small arms, along with some civilian-use technologies. The site has long been a hub for engineering some of Russia’s most advanced battlefield weapons.

In December 2022, Vladimir Putin personally visited the KBP facility, highlighting its “critical importance” to Russia’s strategic defense capabilities. The visit underscored the Kremlin’s commitment to bolstering arms production amid intensifying warfare in Ukraine.

The plant has been under international scrutiny for years. In 2014, following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, the United States placed KBP on its export sanctions list. By 2020, it was included in Washington’s full blocking sanctions. The European Union followed suit in December 2023, adding the factory to its list of sanctioned entities for its central role in arming Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The strikes on KBP Tula represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign against strategic Russian targets. They also reveal growing gaps in Russia’s internal air defense network, even in regions deep within the country that the Kremlin once considered secure.

With its arms factories now within reach of Ukrainian drones—and its president having personally endorsed the very site now crippled—Russia’s belief in a safe rear has been shattered. The war is no longer only at the front.