Putin reeling as Ukraine launches 'deepest' attack of war 620 miles inside Russian border

Ukrainian drones hit the Kupol military-industrial factory

Ukrainian drones attacked a military-industrial complex in the Russian city of Izhevsk on Tuesday, in one of the deepest strikes inside the country since Putin's full-scale invasion. UAVS struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, causing a major fire to break out at the site.

Video images circulating on social media channels show the dramatic moment of impact as the deadly drones zeroed in on their target. In one clip, an explosion can be heard, and then a giant ball of flames is seen erupting from the premises. Another video posted online shows panic among workers arriving at the plant for their morning shift.

It comes just days after Ukraine successfully inflicted more pain on Putin's battered air force as it struck the Marinovka airfield in Russia's Volgograd Oblast.

A series of explosions are heard inside the plant, with workers rushing and screaming as they try to get to safety.

City authorities said three people were killed in the attack and another 25 were injured.

Local residents told the independent Russian media Telegram channel that air raid sirens had failed to go off prior to the deadly attack.

The city is located in the Udmurt Republic of Russia, more than 1000km from (600 miles) from the frontline.

The Kupol factory is one of the largest enterprises of Russia's military-industrial complex and was established back in 1957.

The Kupol factory was hit by drones (Image: X social media)

It produces the Tor-M2E air defence missile system, as well as the Saman-M1 and Adjutant target training systems.

After Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the industrial complex has been producing Harpia-A1 attack drones using engines and components from China.

The company was added to the EU sanctions list on December 16, 2022 and previously attacked in November of last year.

Ukraine's military confirmed it had attacked Izhevsk in a later statement, as well as an oil refinery in the Saratov region.

"As part of reducing the enemy's air defence capabilities, on July 1, units of the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defence Forces, struck the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, located in the Udmurt Republic of the Russian Federation," they said.

"The Kupol plant is a facility of the Russian military-industrial complex, specialising in the production of short-range anti-aircraft missile systems.

"Precise hits on building No. 1 at site No. 1 have been confirmed. A fire has been recorded. The results of the damage are being clarified."