Story highlights
- Ukraine’s drone strike hits Moscow’s Zelenograd tech park
- Sanctioned chipmaker Mikron JSC likely damaged in attack
- Russia says 296 drones shot down in mass assault
- Airports shut down; major flight delays reported
- Leaks expose Russia’s nuclear silo modernization plans
- Putin using Western construction materials, reports say
- Trump: “We’ll know in two weeks if Putin is stalling”
Lead
A high-profile drone strike attributed to Ukraine’s 14th UAS Regiment reportedly targeted the Elma-Zelenograd technology park in the Moscow region late Tuesday night, damaging critical infrastructure tied to Russia’s sanctioned microelectronics sector.
Background
According to a statement posted by the 14th UAS Regiment on X, Ukrainian drone operators successfully executed a joint mission with other Defense Forces units, striking the tech park located in Zelenograd, a known hub for Russian electronics innovation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin acknowledged air defense activity but downplayed the damage. However, multiple eyewitnesses and independent video footage appear to show fires and explosions following the attack.
Details
Russian Telegram channels and news outlets report that Mikron JSC — Russia’s largest microelectronics plant — was among the targets impacted. The facility is part of the Element Group under the control of AFK Sistema and Rostec, and plays a pivotal role in the production of chips for Russia’s domestic Mir payment card system.
Mikron has been under U.S. sanctions since March 2022, adding international relevance to the incident. This drone attack comes amid a broader wave of assaults, with Russian authorities claiming to have intercepted 296 UAVs overnight across multiple regions.
The escalation has paralyzed major air traffic in Russia, with airports temporarily closed and long passenger queues forming due to flight delays and cancellations.
Reaction
Meanwhile, a joint investigation by Danwatch and Der Spiegel uncovered Russia’s sweeping modernization of its strategic missile silos, including the Avangard-equipped bases near Yasny, close to Kazakhstan.
More than 2 million leaked documents analyzed by the outlets revealed the scale of construction, citing new tunnels, barracks, control centers, and vulnerabilities exposed through internal layouts and security systems. Remarkably, many facilities use Western construction materials — especially those made by German manufacturer Knauf.
Norwegian defense analyst Tom Røseth warned that Russia may need to overhaul these sensitive installations, requiring massive additional investment to secure exposed vulnerabilities.
Outlook
These revelations and military developments are likely to increase geopolitical tension. Responding to a reporter’s question about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, U.S. President Donald Trump said:
With critical facilities targeted and nuclear infrastructure under international scrutiny, the stakes are rising rapidly. Western capitals will be closely watching how Moscow responds — both militarily and diplomatically.
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(with inputs from Spiegel, Danwatch, and social media posts)
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