08 March 2022
Ukraine conflict: Ukroboronprom's Zhytomyr Armour Plant destroyed
by Nicholas Fiorenza
Zhytomyr products included the Strazh fire support vehicle, pictured at the 2017 Arms and Security Exhibition in Kyiv. (Janes/Samuel Cranny-Evans)
Ukroboronprom's Zhytomyr Armour Plant was destroyed and three people were killed, according to media reports on 6 March. CNN said it had authenticated a geolocated video posted on Telegram showing the levelled plant to support Russian claims of ‘demilitarising' Ukraine.
A Ukroboronprom spokesperson would not confirm to Janes on 7 March the destruction of the plant but said the conglomerate's enterprises “are currently operating in intensive mode. The information on the status of the enterprises is classified”.
The spokesperson referred to a statement posted on Ukroboronprom's website on 26 February: “We can't disclose the details of the situation at our defence enterprises to avoid assisting the enemy ... The plants are currently operating according to their schedules and algorithms agreed for each enterprise. In some cases, all design and other documentation has been relocated. Ukroboronprom enterprises work seven days a week, without weekends.”
The statement added that Russian attacks on Ukroboronprom plants had been repulsed by the Ukrainian armed forces, national security service, and national police.
Ukroboronprom said in a statement on 28 February that its enterprises had transferred military equipment, including more than 50 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, and tanks; more than 45 special, cargo, and passenger vehicles; 574 mortars and grenade launchers; more than 170 other weapons; 600 missiles; 105,000 rounds of ammunition; and 12,000 explosive devices to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the Territorial Defence Forces, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other law-enforcement agencies.
Ukroboronprom reported on its website on 2 March that it had transported armoured and other special vehicles and small arms over the past two days. The conglomerate stated on its website on 4 March that its enterprises continued to repair and manufacture weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian army.
Although it did not admit to the destruction of the Zhytomyr Armour Plant, Ukroboronprom announced on its website on 27 February that Russian forces destroyed the An-225, the largest aircraft in the world, on 24 February at Antonov's airfield in Hostomel near Kyiv, where it was undergoing maintenance. Ukroboronprom said restoring the aircraft would cost more than USD3 billion and take more than five years.
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Ukroboronprom's Zhytomyr Armour Plant was destroyed and three people were killed, according to media...
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