Attacks hit military aircraft factories in Russia; Lithuania bans entry of Russians
Mar 19, 2026
Kiev [Ukraine], March 19: The Ukrainian military has hit two aircraft factories in Russia with airstrikes, the General Staff in Kiev announced on Wednesday.
The Aviastar aircraft factory near Ulyanovsk on the Volga River was attacked on Sunday night, the military said in Kiev. An air-conditioned hangar and a parking area, as well as several aircraft, were damaged, it said.
The factory produces Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft and Il-78 tanker aircraft, and maintains heavy transport aircraft.
In addition, it said a maintenance factory for Il-76s near Staraya Russa in western Russia was attacked with drones on Monday night, damaging a hangar.
The strikes have not been confirmed by the Russian side. The Ministry of Defence in Moscow only stated that Ukrainian drones had been intercepted in these regions.
As part of its defence against the Russian invasion, Ukraine is attempting to eliminate military targets deep in the enemy's hinterland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade the neighbouring country in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Lithuania has imposed entry bans on 268 Russians who fought on the front line in Russia's war against Ukraine.
"The security threats posed by former Russian fighters are obvious.
We cannot ignore them," said Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic on Wednesday, explaining the move by the EU and NATO country.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys added that "there is no place in Europe for murderers who have contributed to aggression and terror against Ukraine." He described people who were directly involved in Russia's aggression as war criminals and said they must be barred from entering the European Union or the Schengen free-travel area.
Lithuania's move is in line with action taken by Estonia, which imposed entry bans at the beginning of the year and blacklisted more than 1,300 Russians who had fought in Ukraine.
Estonia - like Lithuania - borders Russia and is strongly in favour of an EU-wide entry ban for Russian participants in the war.
Source: Qatar Tribune
