Drones attack factory in Cheboksary that manufactures antennas for Shahed drones

According to Ukrinform, the ASTRA Telegram channel reported this.

Early on February 18, residents of Cheboksary reported numerous explosions. The governor of the Chuvash Republic, Oleg Nikolaev, confirmed the attack, adding that “there was no serious damage or casualties.”

Residents also said they had seen at least three drones crash. One of them crashed near the local Romashka store, and another allegedly crashed near VNIIR-Progress.

ASTRA analyzed eyewitness footage showing smoke after the attack.

It is not yet known precisely what is causing the smoke, but this location is in the area that residents mentioned near the Romashka store. The VNIIR plant is approximately 800-900 meters from this location, according to ASTRA's analysis.

VNIIR-Progress manufactures Kometa antennas for the Russian army, which protect Russian drones from Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine, the VNIIR-Progress plant manufactures satellite GNSS receivers and antennas for Glonass, GPS, and Galileo systems, as well as Kometa-type modules used in Shahed-type kamikaze drones, Iskander-M missiles, Kaliber missiles, and UMPK munition guidance kits for aerial bombs.

ASTRA also reports that, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian air defense systems shot down 43 drones overnight: 21 UAVs over the Bryansk region, 6 UAVs over the Belgorod region, 6 UAVs over the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea, 5 UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region, 2 UAVs over the territory of the Rostov region, 2 UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Chuvashia, and 1 UAV over the Black Sea.

As reported by Ukrinform, on Tuesday, February 17, drones attacked the Metafrax Chemicals chemical plant in the Perm region of Russia.

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