Drones struck the city of Arzamas in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region early on the morning of Aug. 11, reportedly hitting the Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant.
The Russian Telegram channel Mash reported the attack began at around 3:55 a.m., with witnesses hearing three booms followed by a powerful explosion. Eyewitnesses counted at least five drones flying at very low altitude.
According to the Shot, Telegram channel, there were between four and seven explosions in the city. Soon after, videos emerged on various Telegram channels, allegedly showing a drone flying over the Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant (APZ).
Early in the morning, photos and videos indicated a fire had broken out at the facility. Later images showed that the fire had been extinguished.
The APZ manufactures instruments for the aviation and space industries, along with civilian products.
Russian channels say the plant also develops gyroscopic instruments, control systems, onboard computers, steering drives, verification systems, flowmeters, and medical equipment.
The Russian Defense Ministry initially claimed that between midnight and 7:27 a.m., air defenses intercepted 32 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones:
- Seven over Belgorod region
- Five each over Bryansk and Kaluga regions
- Four over Crimea
- Two each over Oryol, Kursk, Voronezh, Ryazan, and Moscow regions
- One over Tula region
However, in an updated 8:12 a.m. report, the ministry said seven more Ukrainian drones were destroyed:
- Four over Crimea
- Two over Nizhny Novgorod region
- One over Belgorod region
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that between 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 and the morning of Aug. 11, Russian forces launched 71 Shahed attack drones and various decoy drones at Ukraine.
The attacks were repelled by Ukrainian aviation, air defense missile units, electronic warfare teams, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups.
“As of 08:00, air defenses have shot down or suppressed 59 enemy Shahed-type and simulator drones in the north, south, and east of the country,” the report shared via Telegram said.
Hits from 12 drones were recorded at 6 locations, along with debris from downed UAVs at one additional site.