Explosions rocked the Russian city of Kirov (formerly Vyatka) on the morning of July 24 after what Russian sources described as a strike on the AVITEK defense plant, a key military-industrial facility involved in producing weapons for the Russian army.
The attack was first reported by the ASTRA Telegram channel. Local residents shared videos showing thick smoke rising above the industrial area and reported multiple explosions near the plant.
According to publicly available Russian sources, JSC Vyatka Machine-Building Enterprise AVITEK manufactures both military and civilian products. Its military production includes:
- Surface-to-air guided missiles;
- Aircraft components;
- Pilot ejection seats;
- Aviation winches and lifting systems;
- Other aerospace equipment.
The facility is also involved in the production chain of Russia's Tor surface-to-air missile systems.
According to War & Sanctions, a project of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR), AVITEK is a major part of Russia's defense industry. The plant is under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the United States, and several other countries.
Preliminary reports suggest the strike may have been carried out using FP-5 "Flamingo" cruise missiles. This was hinted at by Denys Shtilerman, co-founder of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the type of weapon used.
The distance between Ukraine's border and Kirov is approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), highlighting Ukraine's growing capability to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory.
As of now, Russian authorities have not released official information about the extent of the damage or the operational impact on the facility.
