In Zhytomyr, the cold storage facility belonging to «Rud» – Ukraine’s largest ice-cream manufacturer – was completely destroyed as a result of a Russian attack. The strike took place on 5 September, but the company has only now disclosed details of the extent of the damage. The destroyed facility covered an area of 4,350 square metres. The warehouse held finished products, loading equipment and other assets.
Briefly about the main points
- A Russian drone destroyed a warehouse belonging to the company «Rud».
- The area affected by the damage is 4,350 m².
- The warehouse contained finished goods and equipment.
- The company is assessing the damage caused.
What happened to the «Rud» team?»
As the head of the company’s legal department told NV Business, Olga Blazhkevich, a Russian drone struck a business 5 September at around 4.05 pm.
As a result of the strike, the cold storage facility, together with the administrative and staff accommodation, on the south-eastern outskirts of Zhytomyr was completely destroyed. The total area of the destroyed building is 4,350 square metres.
Inside were finished goods, loading equipment and other company property. The company is currently calculating the total amount of the losses. A criminal investigation has been launched following the attack.
On 5 September, the authorities reported an attack on a food processing plant
On the day of the attack, the Zhytomyr regional authorities did not name the company. The head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration Vitaliy Bunechko reported that Russian troops had attacked food industry facility. According to him, the strike was carried out by a jet-powered drone. A fire broke out following the impact, which the emergency services managed to bring under control.
At that point, there were no reports of fatalities or injuries. At around 16:02, the Air Force issued a warning about a jet-powered UAV heading towards Zhytomyr, after which an explosion was heard in the city and thick smoke rose above one of its districts.
«Rud» accounts for around 30% of the Ukrainian ice-cream market
JSC «Rud» is the largest ice-cream manufacturer in Ukraine and one of the market leaders in frozen foods.
According to the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration, the company occupies around 30% of the Ukrainian ice-cream market. Its products are available in over 75,000 retail outlets across Ukraine.
The company has been operating in the market under the «Rud» brand since 1998 and has its own production facility in Zhytomyr.
Every year, the company processes more than 35,000 tonnes of milk.
«Rud» products are sold in dozens of countries around the world
The company is also one of Ukraine’s largest ice-cream exporters.
According to NV Business, «Rud» products are supplied to more than 36 countries around the world and is sold in the Lidl, Kaufland, REWE, Billa, Aldi, Tesco, Auchan, Carrefour and Metro chains.
As well as ice cream, the company produces:
- frozen vegetables and berries;
- dough;
- bakery products;
- dairy products;
- frozen ready-to-cook meals.
What losses did the company incur?
«Rud» has not yet disclosed the exact amount of the losses. In addition to the building itself, which covers an area of 4,350 m², part of the stock and equipment has been destroyed. Consequently, the total cost of the damage will include not only the cost of restoring the premises, but also the value of the products, equipment and other property that were inside.
At the same time, the company did not report that its main ice-cream production had been halted. It was specifically the cold store and associated premises that were destroyed.
