Night explosions in the Smolensk region: drones may have targeted the strategic "Avangard" factory.

On the night of Sunday, January 4, there was a significant commotion in the Smolensk region of the Russian Federation. This Russian area was heavily attacked by drones, making it a disturbing night. Explosions were heard, and air defense systems were in operation. The target of the attack may have been the strategic "Avangard" plant of the Russian military-industrial complex in the region, as it manufactures engines for Russian missiles, among other things.

The governor of the region, Vasily Anokhin, reported that drones attacked the Smolensk region. He added that supposedly five UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were shot down over the region. According to Anokhin, there were allegedly no destructions or casualties in the area.

"In total, last night, five enemy UAVs were shot down over the territory of the Smolensk region by air defense systems," Anokhin wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile, the Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that the target of the attack could have been the strategic enterprise of Russian missile manufacturing "Avangard." Currently, JSC "Avangard" is part of one of the largest missile manufacturing holdings in Russia – JSC "VPK "NUO Machine Engineering," which incorporated JSC "Corporation "Tactical Missile Armament" in 2013. JSC "Avangard" implements joint projects with the "Roscosmos" corporation. In particular, engines for various types of missiles are produced here.

Additionally, at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, the Russians implemented the "Carpet" plan twice due to the threat of drone attacks. Flights were delayed for departures and arrivals.

The airport was closed from 11:43 PM to 12:48 AM local time and then resumed operations. The Telegram channel Shot also reported on the restrictions.

Later that night, the governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, announced that a drone was shot down near the Luga Bay of the Gulf of Finland. He specified that there were no casualties or destructions.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that 16 drones were destroyed over various regions of Russia during the night. According to the agency, ten were shot down over the Bryansk region, three over Smolensk, and one each over Belgorod, Pskov, and Leningrad regions.

Smolensk governor Vasily Anokhin also mentioned the cessation of the attack of two UAVs in the Safonovsky and Ershichsky districts.

Drone Attack on Russia

On the night of December 28, three Russian regions were attacked by drones. Drone attacks were recorded in the Rostov, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions. In the latter, the railway was damaged as a result of the strikes, forcing the occupiers to suspend train operations.