Drones reportedly attacked a major Russian aircraft repair plant in Novgorod Oblast, a hub for military aircraft maintenance.
According to Astra, citing local Telegram channels, an aircraft repair plant in Staraya Russa was attacked. Reports indicate that the plant’s first shop was hit, though there is no official confirmation.
AO 123 ARP describes itself as “the leader in servicing transport aircraft for military and civil aviation in Russia.”
The plant provides a full cycle of aircraft repair, including all systems and engines, and is the largest enterprise in Staraya Russa. Astra also reports that it ranks among the largest in the region for fulfilling state defense contracts.
The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ adds that the facility specializes in repairing Il-76, Il-78, and L-410 aircraft; D-30KP and AI-20 engines; TG-16M VSUs; and AV-68 and AV-72 propellers.
Notably, Russian aviation monitoring channels report that the plant currently houses two A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Ukraine has not commented on its possible involvement in the attack.
Other attack
Separately, Russia’s Krasnodar Krai came under a large-scale drone attack in the early hours of March 16, with explosions reported near an oil depot in the city of Labinsk.
Videos shared by residents showed a strike in the industrial zone around 2 a.m., followed by a major fire. Regional authorities later said the blaze was caused by “falling debris from a downed [unmanned aerial vehicle] UAV” and reported no casualties.
Notably, in its Tuesday report, the Exilenova+ channel stated that most of the depot’s storage facilities were destroyed in the attack on Labinsk, with further details expected after satellite imagery is analyzed.
Krasnodar Krai is a key logistics hub for Russian forces, with oil depots in the region supplying fuel for operations in southern Ukraine. Damage to such facilities can disrupt refueling and strain frontline logistics.
Open flames and a column of black smoke were visible from several kilometers away.
Meanwhile, Moscow faced what local officials described as a record wave of drone attacks. According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, around 250 drones were intercepted over two days, including 119 over the weekend, as they approached the capital.
The attacks, which began on March 14, triggered explosions in multiple areas around Moscow, including Odintsovo, Domodedovo, and Podolsk, as well as districts such as Istra, Mozhaisk, and Naro-Fominsk.
Russia’s aviation authority imposed temporary flight restrictions at several Moscow airports, citing safety concerns. Despite the scale of the attacks, Russian officials reported no damage.