Ukraine's Naval Forces struck a Russian drone factory in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, with Neptune cruise missiles overnight on 19 April, according to the Ukrainian Navy's Telegram channel. The same overnight operation also hit ammunition depots, logistics warehouses, and fuel infrastructure across occupied Ukrainian territory, the General Staff reported.
Neptune missiles hit Atlant Aero's production building
The Navy confirmed a precision strike with Neptune cruise missiles on the production building of Atlant Aero in Taganrog. A fire broke out at the facility. The General Staff described Atlant Aero as a defense-industrial enterprise conducting the full cycle of design, manufacture, and testing of Molniya-type strike-reconnaissance UAVs and components for the Orion UAV.
Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ first reported explosions over Taganrog at around 4:45 a.m. Initial reports pointed to the TagAZ (Taganrog Automobile Plant) site — Exilenova+ later confirmed that Atlant Aero occupies premises on the TagAZ grounds. Russian news Telegram channel Astra analyzed photo and video materials from local residents and identified the Atlant Aero premises as the point of impact.
Ukraine strikes Russian ammo depot in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, confirms damage to Taganrog drone factory
Rostov Oblast Governor Yurii Slyusar claimed a "rocket strike" hit "commercial infrastructure" and started a fire in "warehouse premises" — without mentioning the drone factory by name.
What Atlant Aero produces
According to Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) War & Sanctions portal, as cited by Militarnyi, Atlant Aero manufactures FPV aircraft-type kamikaze drones, including the Molniia-1, Molniia-2, and the reconnaissance variant Molniia-2R. The facility also produces components for Orion drones.
Atlant Aero sits approximately 40–50 km from Ukraine's state border, near the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, and roughly 180 km from the frontline.
The Navy said the strike means "reduced enemy production capacity and hundreds fewer drones that destroy our cities and villages, killing civilians."
Other overnight targets
The General Staff also reported that Ukraine struck an ammunition depot near Trudove in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast; logistics warehouses near Manhush, Topolyne, and Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast; logistics warehouses near Smile in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; and fuel tanks near Novopoltavka, also in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Losses and the full extent of damage are still being assessed.
The General Staff also updated results from an earlier strike on Russia's Tuapse oil refinery: the AVT-12 primary oil processing unit was damaged along with RVS-10000 storage tanks, which caught fire. At the adjacent oil terminal, Ukraine damaged loading pier equipment, buildings, and additional RVS-10000 tanks.
Pattern of strikes on Atlant Aero
Ukraine has struck Atlant Aero before. In January 2026, Ukrainian missiles hit the facility, damaging the final UAV assembly workshop, two production buildings, and the administrative offices. Earlier, Ukraine also targeted Atlant Aero alongside the Beriev Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex in Taganrog.
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