In the early morning of April 5, 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an attack on an industrial facility in Saransk, the capital of Mordovia, using an unmanned aerial vehicle known as the "Flying Fox". According to local authorities, the incident occurred at 9:45 local time, when the drone, flying at an altitude of just 15 meters, crashed into the factory building. However, despite the collision, there was no explosion, raising questions about the purpose and technical condition of the device. The head of the republic, Artem Zdunov, noted in his official statement that there were no casualties as a result of the incident, and emergency services were already working on the scene, assessing the extent of the damage.

The attack on Saransk was part of a larger nighttime operation by Ukrainian forces that began in the dark. The strike, sources say, involved a converted Aeroprakt A-22 light aircraft, known in the West as the Foxbat, which had been converted into a kamikaze drone. The aircraft, originally designed for sport and civilian use, can carry a significant payload and fly distances of over 1200 kilometers, making it suitable for deep raids into the rear. The strike on Saransk, located hundreds of kilometers from the front line, highlights Ukraine’s growing capabilities for long-range drone strikes.

The target enterprise was identified as the Optic Fiber Systems plant, the only Russian manufacturer of optical fiber used, among other things, to control FPV drones in combat conditions. Although there was no explosion, the very fact of the drone's collision with the object caused a fire that had to be localized by emergency services. The lack of an explosion, according to experts, may indicate either a technical failure in the detonation system or an intention to carry out a pinpoint strike without large-scale destruction.