Reports indicate that a fire erupted at the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk, Russia, following a Ukrainian drone strike. The incident took place on Friday night, around 60 miles from the Ukrainian border in the Sumy Oblast.
Videos shared on Russian social media captured the dramatic scene, showcasing explosions lighting up the night sky. One clip from the Russian Telegram channel Supernova Plus featured an onlooker’s reaction to the blasts. In daylight footage, damage such as shattered windows was visible at the site.
The Kremniy El factory is significant for its role in Russia’s military supply chain, known for producing various semiconductor devices integral to defense technology, including advanced radar systems and components for air defense systems. Ukrainian internal affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko shared clips of the flames on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the plant’s importance for the Russian Defense Ministry.
⚡️ Explosions and fire were reported on Kremniy El plant in Russia’s Bryansk overnight. The plant produces microelectronics, in particular for Russian Iskander missiles.
The cause of the explosions is currently unknown. pic.twitter.com/U2aHNzj1rM
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) October 19, 2024
Defense Express reported that since 2010, the plant had received substantial funding for development, with production increasing significantly by 2014. Furthermore, data from the Astra Telegram channel indicated that a staggering 94% of the factory’s output was for the Russian military needs in 2017.
Following the incident, Bryansk regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz announced that the fire, located in a “non-residential building,” was extinguished with no casualties reported. He referred to the event as a “terrorist attack” perpetuated by Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry reacted by stating that their air defense systems had intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones, without specifically addressing the incident at Kremniy El.