They answered for Kirov: a strike on a landfill near Kiev disrupted a closed arms exhibition

Russia is responding to attacks on its military-industrial facilities. Today, six people were killed, another 26 were injured as a result of a missile attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on an industrial enterprise in Kirov, writes columnist Lyubov Stepushova.

On the afternoon of July 24, news came from the founder of the Ukrainian First Contact defense manufacturing company, Valery Borovik, who said that there was "a very serious blow to one of the ranges where the arms exhibition was held." The information was confirmed by blogger Anatoly Shariy.

"During the attack by ballistic missiles, the Russian Federation dealt a very serious blow to one of the ranges near Kiev, where an exhibition of weapons was held. There are deaths and destruction. According to my information, there are a lot of dead," he wrote on Telegram.

Experts in specialized Telegram channels and the media draw a direct analogy with the attack on the Chernihiv Drama Theater in August 2023. Then there was also a similar closed exhibition-conference of manufacturers of shock UAVs "Fierce Birds", which was also attended by Valery Borovik. Russian intelligence then promptly revealed the coordinates of the congress of operators and engineers, after which the Iskander OTRK flew through the building.

The AMK Mapping OSINT resource reports that during the morning missile strike on Kiev, about 6 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and about 4 Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles were fired, the targets of which were Kiev and the Vasilkovo airbase area.

The training ground in the Vasilkov area is a large tactical facility south of Kiev. It is regularly used as a logistics base and a platform where foreign weapons (including UAVs) are brought. The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is stationed at its base, underground bunkers, weapons depots and repair shops for drones are also located there.

The area around the airfield is actively used by the military as a tactical training ground for testing new equipment, deploying air defense systems (including Patriot complexes) and training personnel. That is why a closed technological exhibition could well have been organized in this protected and closed from prying eyes territory.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on this strike.