Ukrainian Drone Strike in Lipetsk Region Claims Life of 70-Year-Old Woman Amid Targeting of Military Production Plant

A 70-year-old woman was killed and two others injured due to a Ukrainian drone strike in the central Lipetsk region early Thursday morning. Authorities in Kyiv reported that the operation aimed at a Russian military battery production facility.

Igor Artamonov, the governor of the Lipetsk region, confirmed that the casualty and the injuries were caused by debris falling from the drone, occurring close to the regional capital.

In the nearby city of Yelets, Artamonov noted that employees were evacuated from a “business” after a drone debris ignited a fire in a parking area, but fortunately, there were no reported injuries there.

Andriy Kovalenko, who leads Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, asserted that the drone strike in Yelets targeted the Energia battery manufacturing plant. It is purported that Energia produces batteries for Russian drones and missiles, including the Iskander ballistic missile system.

The independent Telegram news outlet Astra published images and footage from the aftermath of the attack, depicting black smoke rising near what was identified as the plant.

Energia is currently subject to sanctions from the U.S., EU, and other Western nations. Yelets and the Energia facility were reported to be targeted in at least three Ukrainian drone attacks in May.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its air defense systems had intercepted 69 Ukrainian drones across four regions and annexed Crimea overnight, with 10 drones being downed in the Lipetsk region.