Russian troops during the day On 7 September, Pryluky in the Chernihiv region came under attack, as a result of which a fire broke out on the premises of a local tobacco factory, which is part of the group British American Tobacco (BAT). According to company staff, the roof of the cigarette production hall caught fire. At the time of the blast, staff were taking shelter, so, according to preliminary reports, no one was physically injured. One woman was diagnosed with an acute stress reaction and was given medical assistance. Firefighters are currently extinguishing the blaze.
- Russia attacked a tobacco factory in Pryluky.
- The roof of the cigarette factory caught fire.
- The staff were taking cover during the attack.
- The company is part of the British American Tobacco group.
- There is currently no information regarding a halt to production.
What happened at the factory in Pryluky
A Suspilne correspondent at the scene reported a fire on the premises of the tobacco factory. Employees said that the fire had engulfed the roof of the cigarette production hall. Firefighters are at the scene.
According to other reports, the strike on the facility was carried out by a Russian drone. However, at the time of publication, the authorities had not yet released detailed information on the type of weapon used or the extent of the damage to the production facilities.
On the night of 7 September, Russia launched a widespread attack on Ukraine 92 drones of various types, including Shahed drones, in particular jet-powered ones, «Gerberas», decoy drones and the S8000 «Banderol». The Air Force reported that 71 targets had been shot down or neutralised, with strikes carried out at 12 locations.
The factory produces well-known brands of cigarettes
Pryluky Tobacco Factory is a manufacturing company BAT Ukraine. The company was established in 1993 on the site of a factory in Pryluky, and the factory itself remains one of the city’s major employers — according to the latest figures from BAT, the company employs around 800 people, more than 400 of whom are based in Pryluky.
BAT Ukraine’s current portfolio includes international brands Vogue, Dunhill, Kent, Rothmans, Lucky Strike and Capri. The company’s official documents from previous years also listed, amongst the brands manufactured in Ukraine, Pall Mall, as well as the Ukrainian brands «Pryluky Osoblyvi» and «Kozak».
BAT had previously announced significant investment in the modernisation of the Pryluky factory. The production complex comprises tobacco and cigarette workshops, power infrastructure and a finished goods warehouse.
Will the strike affect the supply of cigarettes?
Currently There is no confirmation that the company has completely halted production. Furthermore, BAT has not yet reported any damage to key production equipment or any potential disruptions to product supply.
It is therefore too early to speak of a shortage of certain brands of cigarettes on the Ukrainian market. The consequences will depend on the extent of the damage to the cigarette factory and whether the production lines, power-generating equipment and warehouses have been affected.
The company had already suspended operations following the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion. On 25 April 2022, BAT resumed production in Pryluky, stating that the work would be carried out taking the security situation into account.
Details of the extent of the current damage are being clarified.
