Ukrainian Forces Strike Russia’s “Aviastar” Aircraft Plant
Ukraine’s defense forces carried out an attack on the Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region. Preliminary reports indicate that the strike damaged a climate-controlled hangar and aircraft parking areas on the facility’s grounds.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) reported on Facebook.
“As part of efforts to reduce the capabilities of the Russian aggressor’s military-industrial complex, on March 16, units of Ukraine’s defense forces struck the infrastructure of the Aviastar aircraft plant near the city of Ulyanovsk(Ulyanovsk region, Russia).”
The plant is part of the United Aircraft Corporation (a subsidiary of Rostec) and is responsible for producing military transport aircraft such as the Il-76MD-90A, aerial refueling planes Il-78M-90A, as well as servicing heavy transport aircraft like the An-124 “Ruslan.”
According to preliminary information, the strike damaged the climate-controlled hangar and aircraft parking areas, with several planes on the premises sustaining varying degrees of damage. The full extent of the losses is still being assessed.
In addition, Ukrainian forces neutralized another 1,710 Russian occupiers within the same 24-hour period.
Earlier, on March 16 and overnight into March 17, Ukrainian defense units launched a series of strikes on key Russian military targets, including an anti-aircraft missile system, a Bastion coastal missile system concentration area, a communications hub, and military logistics sites. Ukrainian forces also hit drone storage facilities and Russian bases across three regions.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, total Russian military losses are estimated at approximately 1,277,620 troops. In the past 24 hours alone, Ukrainian defenders reportedly neutralized another 860 Russian soldiers.
Over the same period, Ukrainian forces repelled 122 attacks across the front line. The heaviest shelling occurred in the Huliaipole and Kostyantynivka sectors. While Russian forces employed airstrikes, kamikaze drones, and artillery, Ukraine’s defense units inflicted systematic fire damage on the invaders.
