Ukraine hit a second Russian aviation plant in two days — after Aviastar in Ulianovsk, now the 123rd plant in Novgorod Oblast

Ukrainian drones struck the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant in Staraya Russa, Novgorod Oblast, Russia, overnight on 17 March, Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported. The plant carries out repair, modernization, and maintenance of Russian Aerospace Forces military transport aircraft, and Russian aviation monitoring channels reported two A-50 long-range early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft were at the facility at the time of the strike.

Strike at 4 a.m., no fires confirmed

Local residents reported the attack around 4 a.m. local time. As of 5 a.m., fire trucks were at the plant and sounds of aircraft engines were heard, but no fires were reported at the facility. Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported a hit on the plant's first workshop, citing local monitoring channels, which also claimed air defense downed about seven drones. There is no official confirmation of a hit on the plant itself.

Staraya Russa lies in Novgorod Oblast, roughly 650 km north of Ukraine, and about 200 km from both St. Petersburg to the north and the Estonian border to the west.

Novgorod Oblast Governor Aleksandr Dronov confirmed a drone attack on the region and said air defense systems were working. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed overnight air defenses intercepted and destroyed 206 Ukrainian drones — standard language Russian authorities apply to all such attacks.

What the 123rd plant does

The 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant specializes in repairing Il-76 and Il-78 military transport aircraft and L-410 planes, as well as D-30KP and AI-20 engines, and AV-68 and AV-72 propellers for the Russian Aerospace Forces, Exilenova+ reported. The facility is described as a self-styled "leader in servicing transport aircraft for military and civilian aviation in Russia" and carries out full-cycle repair of aircraft, including their systems and engines, Russian news Telegram channel Astra noted. It is the largest enterprise in the Starorussky district and one of the largest in Novgorod Oblast by volume of state defense orders.

Militarnyi noted that the plant may also repair the airframes and engines of A-50 AEW&C aircraft, as the A-50 is built on the Il-76 military transport base.

Two A-50s reportedly on site

Russian aviation monitoring channels reported two A-50 aircraft were at the plant at the time of the strike, Exilenova+ noted. Whether they were undergoing repair or in storage is unknown, and their condition after the strike has not been confirmed.

With Russia's A-50 fleet already reduced to an estimated four flyable airframes, any damage to repair capacity or to the aircraft themselves would further degrade Russia's ability to track Ukrainian air activity and guide its own strikes — pressure that compounds with each successful strike on aviation infrastructure.

Second aviation facility hit in two days

The Staraya Russa strike follows a Ukrainian drone attack on the Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant in Ulianovsk on the night of 16 March, Militarnyi reported. Aviastar is a strategic facility that produces and repairs large military transport and passenger aircraft and is a key part of Russia's aviation industry.