The British newspaper Guardian reported on 30/7 that Russian ballistic missiles on 24/7 destroyed a factory producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) owned by Terminal Autonomy, a company registered in the US state of Delaware. This appears to be the first time Russia has targeted a US company in Ukraine during the conflict.

A source familiar with Terminal Autonomy stated the company specializes in producing high-precision, long-range attack UAVs equipped with guidance systems capable of resisting Russian military jamming measures.

Russian missiles impacting the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on 26/7. *Video: X/AMK Mapping*

"We produce AI-controlled loitering munitions and precision-guided weapons, many of which have been deployed to strike enemy targets beyond the frontline", an introduction on Terminal Autonomy's website states.

The phrase "terminal autonomy" describes the phase where AI controls the UAV's operations to dive onto a target, particularly when defensive forces have suppressed radio signals and telecommunication services used to connect the aircraft with its operator.

Ukrainian officials and Terminal Autonomy did not comment on the information.

Anthony Vinci, a former senior US intelligence official, commented that Russia "does not care" who owns that facility. He stated, "They consider it a target, not bothering whether it is a US or foreign company. I believe that if Patriot missiles or any US systems were manufactured on Ukrainian territory, Russia would immediately attack their production facilities."

Ukrainian firefighters extinguishing a blaze after Russian attacks on the capital, Kyiv, on 26/7. *Photo: DSNS Ukraine*

Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on 26/7 that it had launched a coordinated attack against Ukrainian defense enterprises in Kyiv, including an enterprise manufacturing AQ-100, AQ-400 suicide UAVs and RQ-100 reconnaissance UAVs, with a production capacity of about 1,000 units per month.

All three UAV models are products of Terminal Autonomy.

During the 26/7 attack, Ukraine's Air Force Command announced that Russia had deployed 7 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and modified S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, one Kh-59/69 tactical cruise missile, and 136 various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"Air defense units shot down 5 Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles, one Kh-59/69, and 104 UAVs. Two ballistic missiles and 27 UAVs struck 18 locations, with debris also falling in 7 areas", the agency stated.

A fire erupts in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, following Russian attacks on the morning of 26/7. *Photo: Sputnik*

AMK Mapping, an X account specializing in open-source war data, commented that Russia launched 6 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and modified S-400 anti-aircraft missiles targeting the Solomiansky district in Kyiv during the 26/7 attack.

"Ukraine's Patriot systems launched at least 9 PAC-3 interceptors and intercepted two targets. The remaining 4 ballistic missiles hit their targets, causing major fires", the account wrote.

Satellite data from NASA's Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) subsequently showed two fires erupting in the industrial zone of the Solomiansky district. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that falling missile debris caused fires in at least 3 inner-city districts.

By Nguyen Tien (Based on reports from Guardian, Kyiv Post, RIA Novosti)