Surprise Ukraine Drone Attack Ends with Massive Explosion at Aircraft and Missile Plant Over 200 Miles Inside Russia

An aircraft factory located hundreds of miles over the Russian border was rocked by a massive explosion after a Ukrainian drone strike.

Knewz.com reported that Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed responsibility for launching the attack on the Smolensk Aviation Factory.

Footage recorded of the recent blast shows clouds of acrid black smoke billowing from the damaged plant. The plant, which is located 200 miles across Russian lines, reportedly also produces Kh-59 air-to-ground cruise missiles.

Ukraine claimed the explosion was caused by a successful drone operation. Hromadske, a Ukrainian digital broadcaster, noted: “The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Smolensk Aircraft Plant in Russia was attacked tonight.”

The Kyiv Post reported that the incident inside Russia may be part of a 35 drone-attack Ukraine launched recently.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense, however, denied Ukraine's claims of success.

“On Nov. 26, around 11:20 p.m. Moscow time, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using an aircraft-type UAV on objects within the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," the message read via Telegram.

Baza, a pro-Russian military affiliated Telegram channel, parroted the claim: “The attempted attack took place on the morning of Nov. 26. According to Baza, at least two aircraft-type drones flew in the direction of the plant. The first of them was shot down around 9 a.m. in the Zadniprovsky district of Smolensk. Half an hour later, another drone was spotted over Smolensk - this time it was suppressed by electronic warfare forces.”

The bombardment, some believe, is Ukraine's response to the Nov. 24 Russian attack that included scores of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Dubbed “the most massive since the beginning of the full-scale invasion,” the assault resulted in Kyiv claiming to have shot down 71 drones, damaging 77 residential buildings and 120 facilities, according to Ukrainian officials.

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