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Drone Strike Sparks Massive Fire at Russian Energia Missile Battery Facility in Yeltsy
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A drone strike targeted the Energia battery plant in the city of Yeltsy, Lipetsk region, setting off explosions and a fire at one of Russia’s most strategically important defense facilities, with Lipetsk region governor Igor Artamonov reporting that the drone crashed in an industrial zone on July 15.
Footage shared on social media shows smoke rising from the industrial site shortly after a fixed-wing drone was spotted flying toward the facility.
Yelets, Lipetsk Region, was attacked again today by AO Energia. pic.twitter.com/cgnUHDNynM
— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) July 15, 2025
The governor of Lipetsk region confirmed the attack, stating that an unmanned aerial vehicle had “fallen on the territory of the industrial zone.” One person was injured but is receiving medical treatment, and there is no threat to their life, he said.
Russian outlet Astra also reported visible fire and heavy smoke in the vicinity of the plant.
While the governor did not name the facility, video geolocation and local accounts confirm the target was PAO Energia, Russia’s largest producer of batteries and backup power systems for military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
This is the third known drone strike on the facility in recent months. The most recent prior attack occurred on July 3, damaging at least one building and setting several parked vehicles on fire. Another drone strike was reported on May 23.
PAO Energia specializes in the production of sealed lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium-ion batteries, as well as standardized military-grade power sources. These components are essential to the functioning of a wide range of Russian weapons systems—from reconnaissance drones to long-range missiles.
The factory plays a vital role in Russia’s defense-industrial base. According to Russian corporate procurement databases, Energia has received multi-million-dollar contracts from over 20 defense-related clients, including direct orders from the Russian Ministry of Defense and leading state-owned weapons manufacturers.
Strikes like this are part of an ongoing Ukrainian campaign aimed at degrading Russian defense production capacity far from the frontlines.
As Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, Kyiv has increasingly turned to long-range drone operations to hit back at the logistical and industrial infrastructure fueling those attacks.
Earlier, multiple Russian defense industry facilities were reportedly hit in a wave of drone strikes, including two major aircraft plants and several weapons manufacturers.
