Ukrainian Navy strikes Molniya and Orion drone production plant in Russia's Taganrog with Neptun missiles

Units from Ukraine's defence forces carried out strikes on a number of important Russian military facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia on the night of 18-19 April.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook; Ukrainian Navy

Details: The military reported that a plant belonging to Russia's military-industrial complex – Atlant Aero (in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast) – was struck. This resulted in a fire breaking out on the premises.

Atlant Aero carries out the full cycle of design, production and testing of Molniya strike-reconnaissance UAVs, as well as components for Orion UAVs. The latter weighs about one tonne and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 250 kg, including aerial photography systems, electronic signals intelligence modules, electro-optical systems, KAB-20 guided aerial bombs, Kh-50 missiles and other equipment.

"The strike on this facility will reduce the enemy's UAV production capabilities and weaken the Russian aggressor's ability to carry out attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine," the General Staff said.

Update: It was later reported that the production building of the Atlant Aero plant in Taganrog was struck by Ukrainian Navy Neptune missiles. "Successful work by our military means fewer production capacities for the enemy and hundreds fewer drones used to destroy our cities and villages and kill civilians," the Navy said.

In addition, a Russian ammunition storage point was hit near the settlement of Trudove in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Russian logistics depots were also struck near the settlements of Manhush, Topolyne and Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast and Smile in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as fuel storage tanks near the settlement of Novopoltavka, also in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Russian losses and the scale of the damage inflicted are being ascertained.

The outcome of the strike on the oil refinery near the Russian city of Tuapse has also been confirmed: the AVT-12 primary oil refining unit and RVS-10000 storage tanks were damaged and caught fire. Equipment at oil-loading quays, buildings and RVS-10000 tanks at the petroleum products terminal were also damaged.

"The defence forces of Ukraine will continue to take measures to reduce the offensive potential of the Russian occupiers and stop Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine," the General Staff concluded.

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