On Wednesday, the Ukrainian General Staff announced that it had conducted strikes on two Russian factories responsible for manufacturing and repairing military transport and cargo aircraft. These facilities are located in Ulyanovsk and Novgorod Oblast, and the strikes were reported by Reuters. The attack on the Aviastar factory in Ulyanovsk, part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, occurred on March 16th. This plant manufactures military transport aircraft such as the Ilyushin 76MD-90A and refueling aircraft Ilyushin 78M-90A, and it also conducts maintenance on cargo planes like the Ruslan, situated approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Ukrainian army stated that the strikes inflicted damage on hangars and parking areas, resulting in some aircraft being damaged as well. According to the General Staff, a second attack followed the next day, targeting the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant in the city of Staraya Russa in Novgorod Oblast. They communicated via Telegram, providing updates on the impact and implications of these strikes. These targeted attacks highlight Ukraine's ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military capabilities by targeting key infrastructure supporting its air operations.

Overall, the strikes are part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to weaken Russian military resources amidst ongoing conflict. The targeting of aircraft factories emphasizes Ukraine's commitment to undermine Russia's ability to project air power, which could have implications for future engagements in the ongoing war.