Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia’s Lipetsk region late on Sunday, Jan. 4, reportedly targeting the industrial city of Yelets and sparking a major fire at “Energia,” the country’s largest battery producer.
Debris from one drone fell in the city’s industrial zone, igniting flames. By 1 a.m., the blaze was contained, and preliminary reports indicate no casualties, Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov said.
Officials have not confirmed that the plant itself was hit; reports are based on monitoring of Telegram channels and local media.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said air defenses intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones across eight regions between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., including four in Lipetsk.
Energia, which produces batteries for drones, missiles, aviation, naval systems, and energy infrastructure, has been hit before. The Yelets plant faced two drone strikes in July 2025, and a May 23 attack damaged one workshop and injured nine workers.
Photos and videos shared online show flames engulfing the plant. Supernova+ reported that “one of the military production workshops is burning,” though the full extent of damage is still unclear.
With its chemical power sources used across defense, civil aviation, maritime transport, and energy, Energia remains a high-value strategic target.
The latest strikes followed similar attacks on Sunday, Jan. 4. According to statements from Russia’s Defense Ministry, at least 253 drones were shot down across the country between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time on Sunday, followed by another 41 drones between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Most of the drones were intercepted over regions bordering Ukraine. The Defense Ministry said 86 drones were downed over the Bryansk region and 57 over the Belgorod region.
Drone interceptions were also reported in more distant regions. According to the ministry, three drones were shot down over the Vladimir region, the farthest from Ukraine to report drone activity. Two drones were intercepted over the Tver region.
Earlier on Jan. 4, before midday, the Russian Defense Ministry had reported intercepting another 140 drones in what it described as an earlier wave of attacks.