Russian missiles strike Bayraktar production facility near Kyiv Photo

A Bayraktar drone production facility under construction near Kyiv, Ukraine, was hit in a midnight missile strike, with two Russian missiles causing significant damage.

The plant, a key project developed by Türkiye, had received millions of dollars in investment and was poised to begin operations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Sources indicate that critical personnel had completed training and production lines were close to activation when the attack struck, dealing a severe blow to ongoing preparations. This marks the fourth attack on the facility in the past six months.

Baykar spokesperson İlker Akgüngör said: “We are monitoring the situation closely in Ukraine and will provide necessary updates at the appropriate time.”

Baykar established LLC Avia Ventures in Ukraine in 2019 to oversee the local production of Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI drones. 

The initiative received a boost from a February 2022 Turkish–Ukrainian aerospace cooperation agreement, designed to facilitate direct investment, technology transfer, and favourable production conditions.

The framework, valid until January 2035, also grants Turkish investors special tax and customs incentives in Ukraine’s aerospace sector.

Despite repeated strikes, Bayraktar TB2 drones have remained operational on the battlefield. On 20 August, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian patrol vessel near Kherson with MAM-C/L laser-guided munitions fired from a TB2, killing all five crew members.

Military sources highlighted that the strike demonstrated the drone’s continued ability to engage targets effectively under suitable conditions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev