Ukraine confirmed it struck a major defense plant in Russia’s Bryansk region on Sept. 29, using long-range Neptune cruise missiles in one of its boldest cross-border operations to date.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, four missiles were launched from a distance of about 240 kilometers at the Karachevsky Elektrodetal plant, a facility producing components for military and aerospace industries.
Navy Commander Oleksii Neizhpapa confirmed that R-360 Neptune missiles were used in the strike. The attack ignited a large fire at the site, which could force the enterprise to shut down indefinitely, Ukrainian officials said.
The Karachev plant, also reported by local outlets and residents, manufactures a range of electrical connectors and components used in both military and civilian systems – from printed‑circuit connectors and fittings for military equipment to components for aircraft, antennas, base stations and measurement instruments.
In Bryansk, Governor Alexander Bogomaz warned overnight of a missile threat but gave no details.
Hours earlier, on Sunday, a thermal power station in Belgorod was hit, leaving parts of the city and surrounding towns without electricity.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said traffic lights were out, many people were trapped in elevators, and hospitals and water services switched to backup power. He confirmed the attack targeted energy infrastructure and said two civilians were injured.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 230 drones, six guided bombs, and several rockets fired from US-supplied HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire systems over the past day.
At the same time, Ukraine faced one of the largest Russian bombardments in months. Kyiv reported that 595 drones and 48 missiles were launched against the capital and its environs, killing at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl. Civilian homes, vehicles, and a cardiology institute in the capital were damaged.