**Ukraine Strikes Critical Russian Military-Industrial Site**
In a significant blow to Russia’s war effort, Ukraine’s military launched a drone strike on July 5 against the JSC VNIIR-Progress institute in Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic. The facility produces components for high-precision weapons used by Moscow to attack Ukraine.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed that Ukrainian drones reached their target, but damage assessments were still underway. The VNIIR-Progress institute specializes in developing electronic warfare systems, including the Kometa antenna arrays, which are used to jam satellite, radio, and radar signals. These systems have been employed by Russia to strike civilian and military targets across Ukraine.
**Key Targets Affected**
The Kometa antenna is a critical component of several high-precision Russian weapons, including Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules. These systems have been used extensively by Russia in its campaign against Ukraine, causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure and military targets.
**Sanctions and Previous Attacks**
The VNIIR-Progress institute has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for its role in supporting Russia’s war effort. This is not the first time Ukrainian drones have targeted the facility – on June 9, explosions and fires were reported at the site following a previous drone attack.
**Russian Responses**
In response to the strike, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down two drones over the region. Local media outlets in Cheboksary reported explosions in the city overnight, with some residents even claiming to have seen drones flying overhead. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
**Escalating Conflict**
The attack on VNIIR-Progress comes as Russian troops are escalating their assaults in Ukraine. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russian forces were attempting to breach into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has not seen significant Russian incursions since 2022. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant human suffering and economic costs for both sides.
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