07/25/2025
In the Tambov region of the Russian Federation, a gunpowder factory located in Kotovsk was targeted by a drone attack on July 25. A fire broke out there.
The explosions and fires were reported by the Russians themselves. This enemy military facility has been attacked by UAVs at least three times this year alone.
What is known about the attack?
On Friday morning, the Telegram channel Exilenova+ published a video shared in Russian public forums, showing a fire in Kotovsk from afar.
“Locals are reporting that there is a fire near or at a gunpowder factory, we are clarifying,” the message under the footage said.
Later, OSINT analyst worldmilitares confirmed that the footage was real: the plant in Kotovsk really came under attack on July 25.
In general, a number of regions of the Russian Federation were under attack by UAVs that night. Against this background, the Rosiguard introduced the “Carpet” plan in eight cities, which provides for restrictions on departure and arrival of flights.
Explosions were heard in Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast. In Stavropol Krai, drones attacked the Nevinnomyssk Azot plant, a major producer of nitrogen fertilizers and ammonia used by the Russian army.
What is known about the Tambov Gunpowder Plant?
This enterprise is one of the largest producers of gunpowder for small arms and artillery ammunition in the Russian Federation.
The plant specializes in the production of pyroxylin powders and related products for both military and civilian purposes. It is part of the Russian state corporation Rostec and provides supplies to the Russian Ministry of Defense and other customers.
The Tambov Powder Plant produces smokeless pyroxylin powders for small arms (machine guns, pistols, rifles), artillery systems, grenade launchers, mortar ammunition, tank rounds, including subcaliber armor-piercing rounds. It also produces powder charges for ammunition of various calibers, components of explosives, and nitrocellulose (highly purified), which is the basis for the production of gunpowder and paints.
What preceded
The Tambov gunpowder plant was already on fire after a drone attack in November 2023. Local publications wrote that the fire started as a result of a direct hit by a drone on the enterprise.
In January 2024, the Russians again complained about a drone attack on a gunpowder factory in Kotovsk. At that time, it was reported that an unknown UAV “crashed” on the territory of the enterprise. Drones also hit this factory in July of the same year.
In 2025, the Kotovsk plant was targeted by drones on January 16: then, loud explosions were heard in the area of the military-industrial complex. On the night of June 11, drones again attacked the Tambov gunpowder plant : eyewitnesses said that a large fire broke out on the territory of the enterprise, explosions could be heard.
As OBOZ.UA reported, in January, drones attacked the Amber Talvis distillery in the village of Nova Lyada, a suburb of Tambov. Smoke rose from the site after the strikes.
Very nice! More drones were intercepted by another ruskie target.
This plant was hit several times already, this year alone. If it hasn’t been totally incapacitated yet, it surely is not working at full capacity.