Russians complain about a drone attack on the Tambov gunpowder plant: a fire broke out

Russians complain about a drone attack on the Tambov gunpowder plant: a fire broke out

The Russian city of Kotovsk was attacked by drones on the night of June 11. The UAVs once again targeted the Tambov Gunpowder Plant, one of the largest manufacturers of gunpowder for firearms and artillery ammunition in Russia.

Eyewitnesses claim that a large fire broke out on the plant’s territory, with explosions heard. This is reported by Russian media.

Independent Russian publication ASTRA clarifies: eyewitnesses filming the large fire on the enterprise’s territory think about the "work of air defence" or not at all. They note that "the plant is on fire," and explosions are heard in the footage shot by Russians. Some publications have claimed that an ammunition depot may be on fire.

"The footage shows the territory next to the plant, evidenced by two red and white pipes that have repeatedly appeared in photos of the gunpowder plant in local media," adds a Russian media outlet.

In particular, it produces smokeless nitrocellulose powders for firearms (automatic rifles, machine guns, rifles), artillery systems, grenade launchers, mortar rounds, tank shots, including armor-piercing sub-caliber ones. It also produces powder charges for ammunition of various calibers, explosive components, nitrocellulose (highly purified), which is the basis for gunpowder and paint and varnish products.

Overall, according to Russian media, the plant produces over 200 types of products and is one of Russia’s largest gunpowder manufacturers.

It is no surprise that this enterprise has become a point of close attention from the Ukrainian Defence Forces. The Tambov Gunpowder Plant has been attacked at least four times before: at the end of May and January this year, in June 2024, and in November 2023.