Russian drones struck a factory operated by Poland’s Barlinek Group in the western Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia overnight, injuring at least six workers—Polish media put the figure as high as eight—with two suffering severe burns, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Wednesday. Sikorski described the strike as deliberate, noting that unmanned aircraft approached the site from three directions. A Foreign Ministry spokesman added that five drones hit the facility and that the attack formed part of a broader barrage of 28 Shahed-type drones aimed at the Vinnytsia region, 18 of which were reportedly shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Ukrainian emergency crews and staff from Poland’s consulate were deployed to the scene. The Vinnytsia plant, opened in 2007, is the first overseas factory of Barlinek, one of Europe’s largest wood-flooring makers. The company produces about 12 million square meters of flooring a year and sells its products in 75 countries, with the Ukrainian site accounting for a significant share of output. The incident marks a rare direct hit on assets belonging to a NATO member state and underscores Warsaw’s concerns that Russia’s air campaign is encroaching on its borders. Elsewhere in Vinnytsia, drone debris damaged additional industrial sites and residential buildings during the overnight attacks, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack struck a plant operated by Barlinek, a leading European manufacturer of wood flooring. #Poland #Russia https://t.co/2crwuhyeeq
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the strike on the Barlinek Group's factory in Vinnytsia caused injuries, with two people badly burned. #EuropeNews https://t.co/q9hWH89msr
🇷🇺🇺🇦🇵🇱Drones attacked the Polish Barlinek plant in Vinnytsia, according to the Polish Foreign Ministry. There are casualties, including two with serious burns. "Putin's criminal war is approaching our borders," writes Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski. https://t.co/KWUMhXiT9j