Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian drone plant in Taganrog, military confirms

Key Points:

• Ukrainian forces struck the Atlant-Aero drone manufacturing plant in Taganrog, Russia, damaging facilities that produce Molniya-type and Orion UAV drones, potentially reducing Russia's drone production capacity. Additional strikes targeted ammunition depots and fuel storage in occupied Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.
• Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces achieved their first-ever interception of a Russian Shahed-type drone using a naval drone launched from an unmanned surface vessel, marking enhanced integration of naval and aerial drone defenses.
• Overnight strikes targeted four significant Russian oil industry facilities in Samara, Leningrad, and Krasnodar regions, aiming to disrupt Russia's military funding by damaging critical oil infrastructure; the full extent of damage is still being assessed.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that resuming peace talks with Ukraine is not a priority for Russia, with negotiations stalled since February amid unresolved disagreements over territorial demands and diplomatic scheduling challenges.
• Ukraine is rapidly advancing its AI-driven defense ecosystem, with over 200 companies developing AI-powered drones and more than 70 AI systems in active battlefield use, supported by new military technology centers and international cooperation to enhance battlefield capabilities.