A Ukrainian missile strike damaged an industrial facility in the Sovetsky District of Oryol on October 23. The attack took place during the evening rush hour, as residents were making their way home from work. Oryol Region Governor Andrey Klychkov confirmed the damage and condemned the timing of the strike as particularly cynical.
Emergency crews have been deployed to the affected site, where they are working to deal with the aftermath and provide assistance to those affected. Authorities are still determining the full extent of the damage and clarifying information about casualties.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged suggesting that Ukrainian forces may have used British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles in the attack. Military blogger Yuri Podolyaka said the weapons were potentially deployed against Oryol during the afternoon of October 23. He also drew attention to footage circulating online from the area around the Proton plant.
The Telegram channel Military Informant raised a similar possibility, suggesting that Storm Shadow missiles could have been involved in the strike. However, there has been no official confirmation that this particular type of weapon was used.
The attack comes amid earlier reports about additional deliveries of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. Bloomberg previously reported, citing its sources, that Britain was planning to supply Kyiv with another batch of the cruise missiles.