A Russian drone strike on a pharmaceutical facility operated by India’s Kusum Group in Ukraine’s Sumy region has killed one person and injured several others, with the plant’s main structure largely destroyed. Ukrainian officials and local reports said the attack caused extensive damage to the facility, which had continued operating throughout the Russia-Ukraine war.
Visuals from the site showed thick plumes of smoke rising after the drones struck the industrial facility. The estimated loss to the Sumy plant has been put at around Rs 400 crore, according to reports. The casualty and injury figures could change as authorities continue assessing the impact.
The Kusum Group, headed by Indian national Rajeev Gupta, began operations in 1994 by supplying Indian medicines to Ukraine. The company later moved into manufacturing, opening a plant in India in 2007 and establishing its Sumy facility in 2009. It manufactures more than 50 mainly generic medicines and sells products across several countries, including Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Philippines.
The Sumy facility had remained operational despite the conflict that began in 2022. Its destruction now threatens production from the site and adds another economic dimension to the continuing war.
The strike came amid a broader intensification of Russian drone attacks across Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 135 attack drones in the latest wave, while Ukrainian air defences continue facing challenges intercepting fast-moving, jet-powered drones.
Ukraine has also continued developing and using longer-range weapons in response to Russian attacks, adding to concerns over further escalation.
