Russia attacks Barlinek Group factory in Ukraine. "Losses are significant and we are still assessing them."

The losses are significant and we are still assessing them; we do not anticipate resuming production until six months from now, said Wojciech Michałowski, President of Barlinek SA. The Barlinek plant in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, was targeted by a Russian drone attack on the night of July 15-16.

"On the night of July 15-16, the Barlinek factory in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, fell victim to a Russian drone attack. No one was killed, but two people were injured," Wojciech Michałowski, president of the management board of Barlinek SA, said in a statement sent to the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

"At this time, we don't anticipate resuming production for at least six months. The losses are significant and we are still assessing them," he noted.

He added that for security reasons the company does not disclose detailed data on the scale of damage.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced the attack on Wednesday. "Russian drones struck the Barlinek Group factory in Vinnytsia. The plant manager just told me it was intentional – from three directions. There are injured people, including two with severe burns. Ukrainian services are on the move, including our consulate," Sikorski reported on the X platform. He added that "Putin's criminal war is approaching our borders."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński emphasized to reporters that Russia carried out a "very fierce, massive" attack on the entire Vinnytsia region. "From what we know, 28 drones flew over the area, 18 of which were shot down," he said.

He added that the Polish factory was hit by five drones. "Everything indicates that (the plant) was simply a designated target, that this was not a random attack. Rescue operations and fire extinguishing are still underway. Initial reports indicate that six people were injured, two of whom are seriously injured. None of them are Polish citizens," Wroński said.

When asked if Poland would take diplomatic action following the attack, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman replied that he did not know yet. He added that "the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Radosław Sikorski) will decide on all of this."

The Russian military attacked Ukraine overnight Tuesday into Wednesday using 400 drones and one missile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. Hits were recorded against a missile and 57 drones in 12 locations. Debris from downed drones fell in two locations.

"The enemy attacked with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea, as well as 400 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles and various types of decoy drones from the following directions: Shatalovo, Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea. Of these, 255 drones were Shahed," the Air Force reported on Telegram.

The main targets of the attacks were Kryvyi Rih and Vinnytsia in central Ukraine and Kharkiv in the north-east of the country.

Barlinek is one of the largest wood flooring manufacturers in Europe. The plant in Vinnytsia was one of the group's three production facilities.

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Earlier information

Russian drones struck the Barlinek Group factory in Vinnytsia, Ukraine . "The plant manager just told me it was intentional, from three directions. There are injured people, including two with severe burns. Ukrainian services are on the move, including our consulate," Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote on social media.

“Putin’s criminal war is getting closer to our borders,” the foreign minister added in his post.

"The enemy attacked with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea, as well as 400 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles and various types of decoy drones," RMF24 reports, citing the Ukrainian Air Force.

The owner of the Barlinek Group, which produces wooden floors, among other things, is Michał Sołowow, one of the richest Poles.

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