Voronezh intercepts 113 drones after strikes on key industrial plants

Russian air defense units intercepted 113 drones over Voronezh Oblast during the night of October 25 and 26, 2026. Governor Aleksandr Gusev reported that 70 of these were shot down directly over the city, with the remainder falling in surrounding districts. The high volume of intercepts indicates a coordinated effort to overwhelm local defenses.

The primary targets were the Voronezhsintezkauchuk rubber plant and the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association, known as VASO. Ukrainian OSINT channels Supernova+ and Exilenova+ identified these facilities as the main points of impact. Voronezhsintezkauchuk is a division of the Sibur group and produces synthetic rubbers and polymers. VASO operates under the Ilyushin Aviation Complex within the United Aircraft Corporation and manufactures components for the Ilyushin Il-96 airliner.

Gusev told Interfax that fires broke out at several industrial businesses but did not name the specific companies in his initial statement. He described the incidents as having no significant consequences. This account contrasts with reports from local media and observers who documented extensive damage to the facilities.

The blast effects and debris caused damage across nearly every district of the city. Gusev listed fires at a business center, an apartment building, two dacha settlements, a school stadium, and a garage cooperative. Russian media outlet Astra provided specific locations for the impacts, including the Galereya Chizhova business center at 35A Koltsovskaya Street. The publication also identified explosion sites on 25th Yanvarya Street and Arkhitektora Troitskovo Street.

Residents reported hearing explosions and air defense operations for over an hour. The city remained shrouded in smoke throughout the engagement. Astra noted that a car park on 45th Strelkovoy Divizii Street lost at least ten vehicles to the flames. Residents stated that no formal air raid warning was issued before the strikes began.

The attack targeted two critical sectors of the Russian economy: aviation manufacturing and petrochemical production. The involvement of Sibur and the United Aircraft Corporation marks a direct hit on major corporate infrastructure. Local authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the damage to both public and private property.