Russian Missile Strikes US-Owned Factory in Western Ukraine, Injuring Dozens
Russian Missile Strikes US-Owned Factory in Western Ukraine, Injuring Dozens
A Russian missile struck an American electronics factory in western Ukraine early Thursday, causing extensive damage and injuring more than a dozen people, according to Ukrainian officials. This attack was part of one of Russia’s largest aerial barrages of the ongoing conflict, involving over 570 drones and 40 missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on social media, identifying the target as an “ordinary civilian enterprise, an American investment” that produced household items like coffee machines. He noted that at least 15 individuals were wounded. While officials did not name the company, Ukrainian media reports identified it as Flex, a global electronics manufacturer with headquarters in Austin, Texas, and Singapore, which operates a facility in Mukachevo, where the strike occurred.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the industrial plant in Mukachevo, a town near the Hungarian border. Although western Ukraine is less frequently targeted, this region was a primary focus of Russia’s recent overnight assault. Ukraine’s military reported intercepting most incoming weapons, but some penetrated defenses, resulting in one civilian fatality in Lviv, western Ukraine’s largest city.
The strike follows recent diplomatic efforts by former President Trump, who met separately with President Zelenskyy in Washington and President Putin in Alaska to initiate peace negotiations. Trump had reportedly instructed Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to develop plans for security guarantees for Ukraine, likely limited to air support, as Trump has expressed disinterest in deploying U.S. ground troops.
Despite ongoing discussions with European counterparts regarding potential future troop deployments, Ukrainian officials, like parliament member Oleksandr Merezhko, advocate for NATO membership as the only “ironclad” solution to halt Russian aggression. Russia, however, remains firmly opposed to Western military presence in Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserting Russia’s right to veto any security guarantees for Ukraine, effectively rendering them meaningless. The current diplomatic landscape shows a stark opposition between Ukrainian and Russian stances, making immediate reconciliation unlikely.
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