A deadly drone attack on the Russian city of Izhevsk on Tuesday, July 1, left three people dead and at least 35 others injured, according to regional officials. Ukrainian sources claimed responsibility, saying the strike was aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to wage war by targeting a key drone manufacturing site.
Izhevsk, located over 1,000 kilometers from the war front, is a major hub for weapons production, including the famous Kalashnikov rifle and combat drones. Ukrainian security officials described the strike as a calculated effort to disrupt Moscow’s supply chain. They called the facility a critical part of Russia’s military machine.
Videos shared online showed what appeared to be a drone flying over the city and an explosion on a building rooftop. The footage has not yet been independently verified.
Alexander Brechalov, the regional head of the Udmurt Republic, where Izhevsk is located, confirmed the deaths and injuries via Telegram. He said 35 people were hospitalized, including 10 in serious condition. He also confirmed that an industrial plant had been hit, but did not name the facility or describe the extent of the damage.
In response, Russian forces launched airstrikes on Gulyai-Pole, a town in central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukraine’s military reported both deaths and injuries from the Russian retaliation but did not release exact figures.
The attacks happened as peace talks remain stalled. Recent diplomatic efforts have made little progress, and both sides are increasing military pressure. Ukraine’s top military chief vowed in June to launch deeper strikes into Russian territory, describing it as a necessary move to push back against Moscow’s ongoing offensives.
Russia has also ramped up its attacks. Reports from the Institute for the Study of War show that Moscow made its most significant territorial gains in June since late 2023. AFP noted a sharp rise in Russian drone bombardments, aimed at exhausting Ukraine’s air defenses and sapping civilian morale.
On June 30, a Kremlin-backed official claimed Russian troops had fully taken over Ukraine’s Lugansk region, pointing to a shift in battlefield control.
Despite growing international calls for peace, negotiations remain stuck. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly accused Russia of dragging its feet. The Kremlin insists it’s willing to talk. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov thanked Washington and allies of former US President Donald Trump for their mediation efforts, but so far, neither side has shown signs of backing down.
