Russian strikes hit Polish ceramics factory Cersanit in Zhytomyr Oblast

Overnight attack in Zvyahel Raion

Russian forces launched an overnight strike on an industrial facility in the Zvyahel Raion of Ukraine's Zhytomyr Oblast during the night between 11 and 12 September 2026. The targeted site was identified by local witnesses as the production plant belonging to Polish ceramics manufacturer Cersanit. Emergency responders from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine arrived on the scene in the morning hours and successfully brought the resulting fire under control. The regional emergency department confirmed that the blaze was extinguished without any casualties or injuries among workers or rescue crews. Vitaliy Bunechko, the head of the Zhytomyr regional military administration, confirmed on social media that Russian forces struck a foreign enterprise in the district and verified that nobody was hurt on the premises.

Cersanit Invest operations and market footprint

The affected facility is operated by Cersanit Invest LLC, the Ukrainian subsidiary of the Polish joint-stock company Cersanit SA. Established in 2007 and constructed entirely from scratch, the Zvyahel manufacturing complex stands as the single largest producer of ceramic tiles and sanitary fixtures in Ukraine. The factory manufactures a wide range of goods, including ceramic wall tiles, porcelain stoneware, acrylic products, and sanitary fittings marketed under the Cersanit and Opoczno brand names. Financial records reported by Forbes Ukraine indicate that the Ukrainian subsidiary generated annual revenue exceeding 3.7 billion hryvnias in 2025, while related reporting noted operating earnings surpassing 3.5 billion hryvnias in the preceding year. By Saturday evening, the management board of the Polish parent company had not issued an official communication regarding the physical damage to its infrastructure or the broader operational impact on its supply chains.

Russian targeting of civilian and commercial assets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the strike on the Polish-owned facility during a wider briefing on national defence. Zelenskyy announced that Russian forces deployed nearly 500 Shahed attack drones across Ukrainian territory starting on Saturday morning. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian military commanders have shifted combat operations away from frontline sectors where progress has stalled, focusing instead on dismantling commercial and civilian facilities. Zelenskyy noted that recent Russian barrages have systematically struck food storage warehouses, petrol stations, and residential buildings essential for civilian survival. The Ukrainian president stated that multiple foreign-owned commercial facilities have sustained direct hits in recent days.

Just in the last few days, they attacked a steel mill belonging to an Indian business, an American company producing sunflower oil, and a Polish company manufacturing sanitary fittings.

Casualties and broader damage in Zhytomyr Oblast

The drone strike on the Cersanit plant occurred alongside broader Russian attacks across the Zhytomyr Oblast on Saturday. Later in the afternoon, Russian bombardment hit the regional capital of Zhytomyr, striking a local grocery store and causing two civilian deaths. Emergency services reported that strikes in the surrounding area also damaged petrol stations and adjacent municipal infrastructure. Local administrative officials confirmed that emergency response teams remained on site to clear debris and assess the full scope of structural destruction across the district.