Ukrainian drones struck the Russian city of Penza on the morning of 1 July, hitting a research institute that helps build Russia's missiles, monitoring channels reported. The targeted site makes sensors for the cruise missiles and warplanes that Russia turns on Ukrainian cities, and it sits under US and Ukrainian sanctions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike as part of Ukraine's daily long-range campaign, which the same night also reached an oil refinery deep inside Russia.
A "visit" from drones
Residents of Penza reported an attack and impact early on 1 July, the Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channel Exilenova+ wrote. Astra, a Russian news Telegram channel, said Penza Oblast Governor Oleg Melnichenko had confirmed a strike on the region.
Melnichenko first claimed a downed drone whose debris hit a power line and an unfinished building. He later acknowledged a drone attack on the city itself. He added that emergency crews were on site and claimed there were no casualties.
What the Penza institute builds
Locals first pointed to a state bearing plant and the Mayak factory, Exilenova+ reported. Analysts then geolocated the main target: the Scientific Research Institute of Physical Measurements, known as NIIFI. Astra reached the same conclusion.
Ukraine has been hitting the factories behind Russia's missiles as part of its deep-strike campaign. In June, drones set a Voronezh semiconductor plant ablaze, and Flamingo missiles struck a Volgograd arms plant making Iskander parts.
Reports on a second Penza site stayed unresolved. One Ukrainian account described Mayak as a defense-electronics maker, while Astra's OSINT pointed to a power substation beside the Mayak pulp-and-paper mill, a civilian plant. Monitors cautioned that the Mayak damage could come from Russian air defense or a downed drone.
Zelenskyy confirms, and Ufa burns again
Zelenskyy confirmed the Penza strike. He said Ukraine's weapon reached a strategic military-industrial target that makes missile components used against Ukrainian cities, about 600 kilometers from the front.
The same night, Ukraine hit the Ufa oil refinery again, one of Russia's largest lubricant producers, more than 1,300 kilometers away, the President said. Zelenskyy called the strikes Ukraine's daily long-range answer to Russia dragging out the war.
At the time of publication, Euromaidan Press couldn't independently confirm a success or failure of the Ufa attack.
