Russia Strikes Ukraine's "Star Military Factory," Which Produces Hundreds of Drones Daily and Will Manufacture Ballistic Missiles

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Russia, Xiao Xinxin; Global Times Special Correspondent, Zheng Zhen] Recently, Russia and Ukraine experienced the "largest and most intense mutual attacks since the outbreak of conflict," setting multiple battlefield records. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 16th that in the past 24 hours, Russian forces shot down 1,478 Ukrainian drones, the highest number to date; among them, about 600 drones were headed directly towards Moscow, marking the largest drone attack Moscow has faced. The Russian military simultaneously launched counterattacks, firing ballistic missiles and a large number of drones, focusing on key Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises. Among the targets listed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, one Ukrainian defense company drew attention: the privately-owned "Fire Point" company, established in 2022. This company has been referred to as Ukraine's "star military factory" in Western media, producing about 100 "Flamingo" long-range cruise missiles per month and hundreds of long-range drones daily, supporting Ukraine's capability for deep strikes against Russia.

The Background of Ukraine's "Fire Point" Company is Deep

"Ukraine has launched what may be the largest wave of attacks against Russia to date," the British newspaper The Guardian reported on the 16th, noting that this round of attacks resulted in at least six deaths within Russia. Meanwhile, Russia bombed 13 locations within Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of seven Ukrainians.

On the 17th, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that in the past 24 hours, Russian air defense forces shot down 797 Ukrainian drones. According to statistics from the Russian Satellite News Agency, since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have shot down over 100,000 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones within Russian territory, with the numbers for July and August significantly higher than in previous months; the single-day record for downed drones was reported on August 16, with 1,478 drones.

The extensive use of drones by Ukraine to attack targets within Russia has become the norm in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russian strikes also target these objectives. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the 16th, Russian forces used ground-based and air-based precision weapons and drones to focus on strikes against the Ukrainian private defense company "Fire Point" in Kyiv, as well as military enterprises "Kyiv-111," a refinery in Poltava Oblast, and a metallurgical plant in Dnipro-Petrovsk Oblast.

The "Fire Point" company has received significant attention from Western media. The Wall Street Journal reported on the 17th, interviewing the company's CEO and CTO—34-year-old Irina Terekh, stating that the Ukrainian drones that have dealt heavy blows to the Russian military come from a "post-90s" furniture designer. The report noted that "Fire Point" employs 7,000 people, and the long-range drones and missiles it produces are striking targets across Russia, helping Ukraine turn the tide of the war.

The Guardian stated that "Fire Point" produces hundreds of long-range drones daily, supporting Ukraine's capability for deep strikes against Russia. "To my knowledge, all the (deep strike) incidents against Russia that have occurred in the past few months are related to our products," Irina Terekh stated. Reports indicate that "Fire Point" currently has 83 factories within Ukraine. Terekh recently mentioned that the company's first ballistic missile, the FP-7, will be ready this fall. This missile has a range of 200 kilometers and carries a 150-kilogram warhead, capable of striking ground targets, and is currently being modified for use in air defense systems. The company is also developing the FP-9 ballistic missile, which has a range of up to 855 kilometers and carries an 800-kilogram warhead, "sufficient to bring Moscow within striking range."

However, some independent Russian media reports suggest that "Fire Point" operates under a "false flag" for Ukraine, actually using British technology and European materials, essentially being a "branch of the British defense industry in Kyiv."

Russian Logistics Hubs Frequently Attacked

The large e-commerce platform Wildberry, known as the "Russian version of Taobao," has become a primary target for recent Ukrainian strikes. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated on social media on the 16th that in the early hours of that day, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on Wildberry's logistics hub located in Moscow Oblast. This hub covers an area of 250,000 square meters and is Wildberry's largest warehouse facility. The governor of Moscow Oblast confirmed the attack. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that to date, seven of Wildberry's ten large warehouses have ceased operations due to Ukrainian attacks. A report released by Russian Foreign Ministry officials recently stated that Ukrainian forces deliberately attacked 11 of Wildberry's large warehouses and logistics centers in July.

On the 17th, the Associated Press reported that the attacks by Ukrainian drones on Wildberry's warehouses began in July and have continued for a month, extending from Moscow and St. Petersburg all the way to southern cities and eastward to the Ural Mountains. Wildberry's warehouses have experienced consecutive large fires, with related footage widely circulated on social media. These attacks not only incinerate goods worth billions of dollars but also directly impact many Russian citizens, making them feel the effects of war. According to Ukrainian officials, the purpose of these attacks is to disrupt the supply of goods within Russia, incite public discontent, and apply pressure on major banks, such as those involved in foreign trade with Russia, creating a domino effect in the Russian economy. These banks had previously provided substantial loans to Wildberry.

However, some analysts warn that these attacks may not necessarily provoke public discontent in Russia; instead, they could fuel stronger anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western sentiments. Some point out that these attacks indicate Ukraine's attempt to destroy the daily lives of Russians, stating, "The enemy is not attacking the Russian leadership or military, but ordinary citizens."

Global Times reporters in Russia and their friends have also felt the impact of the attacks on Wildberry's warehouses: logistics delays have occurred, and many express deliveries that were supposed to arrive the next day have not updated their logistics progress for a long time or have been postponed. For ordinary Russian citizens, besides Wildberry, there are two other e-commerce platforms to choose from. However, the losses suffered by Wildberry's merchants are significant, and if Wildberry faces a debt crisis, the impact on Russia's finances should not be underestimated.