Russia strikes military-linked logistics hubs in Kiev – MOD (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
Russia has carried out overnight strikes on transport and logistics facilities in Kiev and the surrounding region, hitting sites used to handle items and drone components meant for the Ukrainian army, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said that among the targets attacked by high-precision long-range weapons was the MLP-Chaika logistics center, which stored and distributed components for long- and medium-range drones.
Also hit was Nova Poshta’s innovation terminal and logistics center, described by the ministry as one of the “largest automated sorting complexes” handling dual-use goods, including drone parts, robotic systems, and electronic-warfare equipment.
The ministry said it also struck the Trans-Logistic transport hub producing drones of various types and storing military supplies for Ukrainian forces, along with the Epicentr logistics center, a large automated warehouse also processing and storing dual-use goods and drone components for the Ukrainian military.
In the wider Kiev region, the strikes hit the Brovary Terminal facility, the Raben Ukraine logistics hub, and another Nova Poshta sorting complex, all involved in supplying drone parts, including foreign-made ones.
In addition, the attacks hit three vessels off Odessa that were transporting military cargo, according to the statement.
Videos circulating on social media show multiple plumes of smoke rising over Kiev and its suburbs, while the authorities released photographs showing several warehouses reduced to rubble.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service claimed 14 people were killed and 27 wounded in the overnight attack. The service said crews were working at seven sites across the region, with large fires breaking out at warehouses in the city of Brovary and the villages of Velikaya Dymerka, Kvitnevo, and Peremoga.
Ukraine’s air force said the barrage involved four Tsirkon/Oniks anti-ship missiles, 24 Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, and 115 strike and decoy drones. It claimed to have shot down or suppressed 98 drones but did not report intercepting any of the missiles, which Ukraine has been able to tackle only by using high-grade Western-supplied interceptors.
Epicentr confirmed that one of its logistics centers was hit and that a missile also struck a ceramic production plant, with all of its kilns destroyed. It added that it has halted production there and plans to temporarily shift output to two facilities abroad while preparing to launch another line in Ukraine. It estimated that rebuilding the production line would take up to two years, with the total damage yet to be determined.
The barrage came two days after a Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea resort of Gelendzhik, southern Russia, killed at least eight people, including four children, and wounded dozens of others.
It also follows several weeks of deadly Ukrainian strikes on warehouses operated by Russian online retailer Wildberries, which Kiev claims is involved in handling dual-use items. Moscow has denied Wildberries is involved in supporting the Russian military.
