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Drone Strike Hits Major Russian Ammo Plant in Tambov, Sparks 15 Explosions
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A major Russian gunpowder factory in the city of Kotovsk, Tambov region, was struck by drones overnight, triggering explosions and a fire on-site, according to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation on June 11.
The attack targeted the Tambov Gunpowder Plant—one of Russia’s largest producers of smokeless powder and other explosives critical to the Russian war effort in Ukraine. The facility is part of the state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec and produces over 200 types of military-grade materials, including propellants for firearms, grenades, artillery shells, and mortar rounds.
“The Tambov Gunpowder Plant has once again come under attack. Operations at the facility have now been paused,” reported Kovalenko.
“It’s one of the key enterprises in Russia’s military-industrial complex, producing powders for a wide range of firearms, artillery, and rocket systems, as well as collodion cotton used in the manufacture of explosives and other specialized products. Since the full-scale invasion began, production at the plant has significantly increased.”
The facility, located about 360 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, has been attacked multiple times over the past two years. This latest strike follows similar drone attacks in May 2025, July 2024, and November 2023—all of which caused fires or disruptions at the plant.
According to Russian officials, the fire on June 11 broke out after one of the drones was shot down and crashed on factory grounds.
“On the night of June 11, a mass drone attack by the Ukrainian regime on Kotovsk was repelled. A fire broke out after one of the downed drones fell on the plant’s premises, but it was extinguished by firefighting units,” said Evgeny Pervyshov, governor of Tambov region.
Local residents reported hearing up to 15 explosions during the incident.
The Tambov Gunpowder Plant specializes in nitrocellulose-based smokeless powders used in both military and civilian applications. Its strategic importance has grown since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as demand for munitions has soared.
Earlier, drones targeted a critical Russian defense facility striking the “Progress” plant in Michurinsk, Tambov region—a major supplier of missile and aviation system components to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
