Ukraine strikes Morozov plant producing Iskander missile fuel near St. Petersburg
Ukraine's defence forces attacked the Morozov Plant in Russia's Leningrad region near St. Petersburg overnight on November 9. Ukrainian sources reported that three production workshops were damaged, while the plant produces solid-propellant charges for 9M723 Iskander-M missiles. Russia has not confirmed the strike.
Key points
- The Morozov Plant in the Leningrad region was struck overnight on November 9.
- Ukrainian sources reported damage to three production workshops.
- The plant supplies solid-propellant charges for 9X820 engines used by 9M723 Iskander-M missiles.
- The plant is part of Russia's Rostec state corporation.
- The General Staff said the strike complicates Russia's production of Iskander missiles used against Ukrainian cities.
- The plant is more than 900 kilometres from Ukraine's border.
- Russia has not confirmed that the plant was hit.
Why it matters
The reported damage targets an early stage of the Iskander missile production chain rather than launch systems. The Morozov Plant is a Rostec military-industrial facility more than 900 kilometres from Ukraine, and the General Staff says the strike could complicate Russia's production of missiles used against Ukrainian cities.
What happened
Ukraine's defence forces struck the Morozov Plant in Russia's Leningrad region near St. Petersburg overnight on November 9. Operators from the First Separate Centre of Unmanned Systems, together with other elements of Ukraine's defence forces, participated in the attack. Ukrainian sources reported that three production workshops were damaged, although the scale of the losses was still being assessed and Russia had not confirmed the strike.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources focused on the damage to three workshops and on the General Staff's assessment that the strike affects the Iskander production chain. They also highlighted the involvement of unmanned-system operators, the target's distance of more than 900 kilometres from Ukraine, and the legal justification of acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Where reporting differs
Ukrainian sources reported that three production workshops at the Morozov Plant were damaged, whereas the Russian side did not confirm the strike. Reports also circulated on social media that a fire broke out at the Kirishi Oil Refinery after the same night of drone attacks, but that information was not independently confirmed in the same way.
Background
The Morozov Plant manufactures explosives and solid-propellant charges for 9X820 engines used by 9M723 Iskander-M missiles. It also developed solid fuel for Topol-M missile systems. Reports said a fire broke out at the Kirishi Oil Refinery after a series of explosions on November 9; the refinery has an estimated processing capacity of about 20 million tonnes of oil per year.