Kyiv officials reported that the American-owned Flex electronics factory in Mukachevo, Ukraine, was engulfed in flames in the early morning of 21/8 after being hit by two Russian Kalibr cruise missiles. The attack injured approximately 15 people.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha confirmed that the factory was not operating for military purposes. It was hit during one of Russia's largest attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, with more than 570 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 40 missiles targeting various locations across Ukraine.

Smoke rises from the attacked factory in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, Ukraine, on 21/8. Photo: AFP

Smoke rises from the attacked factory in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, Ukraine, on 21/8. Photo: AFP

At the time of the attack, around 800 employees were working the night shift at the Flex factory. All employees were evacuated to bomb shelters after air raid sirens sounded.

Myroslav Biletskyi, head of the military administration in Mukachevo, said one-third of the Flex factory there was burned down after being hit by missiles, adding that the company had been operating there since 2012.

"This is a normal civilian facility invested in by the US, producing household goods like coffee makers," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the Flex factory, condemning the attack.

Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said the Flex factory is one of the largest private American investments in Ukraine.

Flex, founded in the US and headquartered in both Austin, Texas and Singapore, is listed on the NASDAQ. The Flex factory in Mukachevo, Ukraine was established 13 years ago and currently has over 2,600 employees with a facility of nearly 55,000 m2. The company has not commented on the attack.

The Trump administration has not commented on the incident. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the 21/8 attack targeted "facilities within the Ukrainian military-industrial complex", including several factories, storage depots, missile launch sites, and Ukrainian troop concentration points. The agency denied allegations of attacking civilian facilities.

The attack occurred while US President Donald Trump was promoting peace efforts in Ukraine. Last week, he held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska and subsequently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders.

Ngoc Anh (According to NY Post, NBC, Newsweek)