Ukraine hits a Tver plant making cruise missile fuel

Kyiv Post reported on 9 October that drones hit the Redkino Experimental Plant and started a fire. The Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ describes the site as the region's largest chemical plant. After the first strike in February, Kyiv Post's SBU (Ukrainian security service) sources said the plant made the Detsilin-M fuel component for Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles, as well as diesel and jet fuel additives. The Moscow Times also describes it as a major producer of liquid fuel for these missiles. Neither source cites a claim of responsibility by Ukraine's General Staff. Zelenskiy described the strikes as a response to Russian missile attacks on server facilities in Kyiv.

The Russian side is playing down the damage. Tver Governor Vitaly Korolev confirmed a drone attack on a plant he did not name. He said workers had been evacuated in advance, the fire had been put out and no one was hurt. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 505 drones between 20.00 and 08.00 Moscow time over 19 regions, Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The figure could not be independently verified. The ministry had reported 399 drones the previous night.

Other targets were hit the same night. Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha said nine people were injured and 26 drones were shot down over the region. Yandex said several modules of its data centre in Kaluga were knocked out completely. NASA's FIRMS satellite fire system detected a fire at an oil depot north of Belgorod. Sources differ on casualties in Belgorod: Kyiv Post and The Moscow Times report two dead and four injured, while AP, citing regional officials, reports two dead and 12 injured.