A Russian “Shahed” drone struck a warehouse belonging to Ukrainian snack producer Star Brands in the city of Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, on Sunday, Nov. 2, triggering a fire that continued into Monday morning.
The fire destroyed raw materials and finished goods from the company’s Snack Production and Chip Club units, but all employees were in shelters and no injuries were reported, Forbes reported.
Explosions were also reported overnight in the Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv regions as Russian forces launched new waves of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.
Russia has dismissed US calls to end its nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, pressing ahead with ground offensives and intensifying strikes on the country’s infrastructure.
Star Brands estimates losses in the millions. The final amount will be determined after rescue operations and a full site inspection. The company filed complaints with law enforcement against Russia, Forbes wrote.
It was the second time this year that Star Brands‘ facilities have been hit. In April, another drone strike destroyed products and raw materials at warehouses belonging to Snack Production and Chip Club. No one was injured in that attack either.
The Star Brands Group operates several divisions, including Snack Production, Food Sales, Star Brands Asia (exporting to Asia), the logistics company Eurogrouptrans, and full-cycle grain processing facilities.
The company owns more than 10 brands and produces over 1,000 products. Its main brands include Flint (croutons), BIG BOB (nuts and snacks), Khutorok (flour and grains), and other products popular in Ukraine.
Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and large enterprises, causing damage to the country’s biggest producers.
On Oct. 25, Russia’s ballistic attack on Kyiv damaged the production facilities of Idealist Coffee & Co., Ukraine’s leading drip coffee manufacturer. Nearby residents suffered casualties, with some reported dead and others injured.