Russia struck one of Kiev's key missile-producing facilities: Sputnik
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A Russian strike that targeted Ukraine’s Artem plant in Kiev has damaged missile production facilities and injured foreign engineers.
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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters try to put out a fire following a Russian attack in Kiev region, Ukraine, Sunday, May 25, 2025 (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
A strike targeted a production workshop at the Artem plant in Kiev, where components for Ukrainian missiles are manufactured, Russia-aligned Secret Work Movement coordinator, Sergey Lebedev, said on Sunday.
The strike damaged equipment and injured several engineers, including foreign nationals, Lebedev said, as reported by the Russian news agency Sputnik.
The attack comes amid escalating reciprocal strikes between Moscow and Kiev, with recent attacks focusing heavily on military-industrial infrastructure.
Read more: Russia’s elite drone unit targets Ukraine’s HIMARS launchers
Artem plant; one of Ukraine’s key missile-producing facilities
Lebedev stated that the strike specifically targeted a workshop within the Artem plant, one of Ukraine’s key facilities for producing missile components.
He explained that the workshop had been producing spare parts for Ukrainian missiles and that the strike caused a fire that consumed Western-supplied equipment. This equipment, he noted, was either completely destroyed or required extensive repairs. Electronics and computer systems were also reportedly burned.
According to Lebedev, the attack also hit a workshop used to manufacture drone casings, which also served for assembling drone engines.
He confirmed that the strike destroyed essential supplies and core equipment, with several foreign engineers present at the site.
Read more: Russia claimed strikes on arms shipment in Odesa port
Prisoner exchange between Moscow, Kiev
Separately, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that a further 303 Russian soldiers have returned from territory controlled by Kiev, in exchange for 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The ministry stated that the returned Russian personnel are currently in the Republic of Belarus, where they are receiving psychological and medical support.
It added that all military and civilian returnees will be transported to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation at medical facilities operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
1,000 for 1,000
The statement also noted that, based on agreements reached between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 in Istanbul, both sides carried out a prisoner exchange between May 23 and 25 on a “1,000 for 1,000” basis.
On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed an exchange of 270 soldiers for 270 soldiers and 120 civilians for 120 civilians, followed by a 307-for-307 swap of military personnel on Saturday and 303-for-303 on Sunday, bringing the three-day total to 1,000 people released by Ukraine in exchange for 1,000 released by Russia.
A total of 880 soldiers and 120 civilians have been returned to Russia under the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange deal with Ukraine, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said on Sunday.
Hundreds of Ukrainian drones downed, troop losses mount
In a related context, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses destroyed 274 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past 24 hours, including 194 intercepted outside the Special Military Operation zone.
In addition to the UAVs, four JDAM-guided aerial bombs and four rockets launched from US-made HIMARS systems were also intercepted.
Russian strikes target Ukrainian military infrastructure
The statement added that the Russian forces' operational tactical aviation, attack drones, and artillery units targeted critical Ukrainian military infrastructure, including:
- Airfield facilities
- Ammunition depots
- Drone production and launch preparation sites
- Temporary deployment locations for Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries
Major Ukrainian losses across multiple fronts reported
The Russian Defense Ministry also reported Kiev's military casualties and material losses as follows:
Tsentr (Center) Group
- Up to 435 Ukrainian troops eliminated
- Two armored personnel carriers, nine armored fighting vehicles, ten motor vehicles, and three artillery guns destroyed
Zapad (West) Group
- Up to 230 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated
- Equipment losses included a US-made M113 APC, two armored vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, three artillery guns, one electronic warfare station, and an ammunition depot
Sever (North) Group
- Up to 220 Ukrainian personnel neutralized
- Two tanks, seven armored vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, eight artillery guns, one electronic warfare station, and one ammunition depot destroyed
Yug (South) Group
- Around 260 Ukrainian troops killed
- Equipment losses: two APCs, two armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles, one artillery gun, five electronic warfare stations, three counter-battery radars, and four materiel depots
Vostok (East) Group
- More than 165 Ukrainian personnel eliminated
- Two armored vehicles, ten motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, one BM-21 Grad launcher, and two electronic warfare stations destroyed
Dnepr Group
- Up to 90 Ukrainian troops killed
- Five motor vehicles, four electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition and materiel depots neutralized
Read more: Ukraine offers Gen Z money to fight amid manpower shortage: WSJ
Russian forces capture Romanovka in Donetsk
In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry said its armed forces took control of the village of Romanovka (also known as Romanivka) in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
The ministry stated that the Yug group of forces executed the operation through "resolute actions", further consolidating control in the region.
