Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on Wednesday accused Russia of deliberately striking a Polish-owned industrial facility in Ukraine, escalating concerns over Moscow’s repeated attacks on foreign-operated infrastructure inside the war-torn country.
Why It Matters
Russia has intensified its campaign of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine in recent weeks, even as diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-led ceasefire talks, have stalled. Moscow has previously targeted facilities operated by companies based in NATO countries, raising the risk of broader regional tensions.
In July, a site used by U.S. defense contractor Boeing in Kyiv was hit, according to The Financial Times. Last August, three people were killed when a Russian missile struck a factory in Lutsk operated by Swedish firm SKF. Moscow has claimed such facilities are legitimate military targets.
What Happened
Foreign Minister Sikorski said Russian drones struck a flooring factory in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, owned by the Barlinek Group, a company headquartered in Kielce, Poland.
Barlinek confirmed the attack in a statement to Newsweek, describing the damage as “significant.”
“At present, we do not anticipate that production can be resumed earlier than six months from now,” the company stated, adding that further details would not be released for security reasons.
Sikorski said the factory manager told him the strike appeared “deliberate.” Standing alongside Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Sikorski condemned the attack, calling it part of “Putin’s criminal war [that] is getting closer to our borders.”
Casualties and Damage
According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, eight people were hospitalized after Russian drones hit two industrial facilities and four residential buildings in Vinnytsia. The attacks caused large fires and extensive structural damage.
Polish officials said two victims sustained severe burns, while Vinnytsia authorities reported five burn victims, three of whom are in serious condition.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes were among the most intense in recent memory, with Russian forces targeting infrastructure in Vinnytsia, Kryvyi Rih, and across southern, central, and northeastern Ukraine.
“Russia is not changing its strategy,” Zelensky said. “To effectively counter this terror, we need a systematic strengthening of our defense.”
In Kryvyi Rih, energy infrastructure was hit hard, and crews were working to restore power, Zelensky added.
Wider Implications
Ukraine said the drones launched at Vinnytsia came from three directions, an indication of the complex and coordinated nature of the strike. Ukrainian officials labeled it “another barbaric attack” by Russia.
As the conflict creeps closer to NATO’s eastern flank, military readiness in neighboring states has been heightened. Romania’s Defense Ministry said it placed fighter jets on alert early Wednesday after Russian strikes near its border with Ukraine’s port infrastructure, though the aircraft were not launched.
With foreign-owned factories under fire and regional air defenses on edge, concerns are mounting that Russia’s war could spill beyond Ukraine’s borders.
