Ukraine struck Aviastar plant building Russia's military aircraft from scratch, including Il‑76MD‑90A and An‑124 "Ruslan"

Ukraine has carried out a series of strikes on Russian aircraft manufacturing facilities. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that the Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk Oblast has been hit. Facilities in Staraya Russa have also been targeted.

The Aviastar enterprises are part of the United Aircraft Corporation within the Rostec structure and produce Il‑76MD‑90A military transport aircraft, Il‑78M‑90A tanker aircraft, and maintain heavy transport aircraft such as the An‑124 "Ruslan".

Preliminary reports indicate that aircraft shelters and parking areas were struck. Some aircraft on the premises suffered varying degrees of damage. The full extent of the losses is being assessed.

“The Ukrainian Defense Forces will continue to strike critical strategic facilities supporting the Russian army until the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine ceases,” the General Staff states.

Striking aircraft repair facilities paralyzes restoration

In Staraya Russa, objects at the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant were also hit. The facility specializes in full-cycle repair and modernization of military transport aircraft and their components.

The plant has its own runway, allowing heavy aircraft to land directly on-site. According to available information, the hangar servicing Il‑76 and L‑410 aircraft was struck.

“The participation of operators from the 1st Separate UAV Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in these operations enables high-precision strikes on strategic enemy targets,” report the Armed Forces UAV Forces.

This facility fulfills state defense orders for Russian security agencies and is also involved in export contracts and import substitution programs.

Limiting Russian combat readiness of aviation

Targeting aircraft factories directly affects Russia's ability to restore aviation equipment and ensure its operational readiness.

The effectiveness of these strikes highlights the strategic role of Ukrainian forces in systematically degrading Russia’s military-industrial capacity and demonstrates Kyiv's capability to strike key Moscow assets with precision.

Earlier, Ukraine conducted a series of Middle Strike operations against Russian targets in the temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast. Their long-range drones struck a base of the classified Russian UAV center “Rubicon”, as well as a command element controlling this unit.