Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the facility has shifted focus to producing long-range strike drones, specifically the An-196 Liutiy model. These unmanned aerial vehicles have been used by Ukraine to target key Russian oil, defence, and energy infrastructure since early 2023.
Sviatoshyn Airfield in Kyiv was attacked overnight. Apparently the largest hangar of Antonov Serial Production Plant was targeted.
Representative at photo from 31 March 2024. Note the An-124 parked outside in comparison to the size of the hangar. pic.twitter.com/bRxLD5TdT4
— The Military Watch (@MarcinRogowsk14) April 12, 2025
Due to the effectiveness of these drones in recent operations, Russia has been actively seeking to disrupt their deployment. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are trying by all means to limit the use of the An-196 by striking production and storage sites.
