(Moscow) – A Ukrainian drone strike hit the Elma Technopark in Zelenograd, a key district in Moscow known for its electronics and defence-related industries. The early morning attack on 28 May triggered an explosion and a subsequent fire, damaging at least one building within the sprawling complex.
Eyewitness footage shared by local residents and reported by independent Russian outlet Astra captured the aftermath, showing flames and smoke at the site. Residents in the area reported hearing loud blasts and the distinct noise of air defence systems in operation as the drones approached.
Elma-Zelenograd Technopark spans 60,000 square metres and hosts more than 150 companies engaged in producing electronic systems, control and measuring devices, and optical equipment. The centre also supports research, information technology, and advanced material processing, making it a vital node in the military industrial network that fuels the Russian dictator’s war in Ukraine.
Despite the damage, Moscow’s mayor Sergey Sobyanin downplayed the attack, claiming that there were no serious casualties or damage. However, footage from the scene contradicted that account, showing the intensity of the strike.
Zelenograd lies roughly 37 kilometres northwest of central Moscow and is recognised as the country’s main hub for microelectronics and defence-grade components. Its strategic importance to Russia’s drone and military systems makes the strike by Ukrainian drones especially significant.
Simultaneously, in another pinpoint strike on the morning of 28 May, Ukrainian Liutyi strike drones targeted the Kronshtadt plant in Dubna, another key facility linked to drone manufacturing for the Russian military. Video footage from Dubna showed visible explosions and damage to the site.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed that between 9 p.m. on 27 May and 7 a.m. on 28 May, its air defences intercepted 296 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over multiple regions including Moscow, Bryansk, Belgorod, and Tula. These claims have not been independently verified, and the scale of successful strikes points to growing vulnerabilities in Russia’s defensive network.
