The Only Fiber Optic Plant in Russia Shut Down for Nearly a Year After Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Russia’s only fiber optic plant has still not resumed operations after Ukrainian drone strikes in April–May 2025.

According to The Moscow Times, the facility, Optic Fiber Systems, is located in Saransk.

The plant produced fiber-optic cables for both the telecommunications industry and the Russian military, involved in the war against Ukraine.

It operated six production lines, each capable of producing 2,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable per day, for a total daily capacity of 12,000 kilometers.

Annual fiber-optic production amounted to about 4 million kilometers, which around two dozen Russian factories used to manufacture fiber-optic cables.

Strikes on the plant

Ukrainian drones struck the production facilities of the Optic Fiber Systems plant on the night of April 5 and May 7 last year. The attacks caused fires on the premises.

The enterprise is located approximately 660 kilometers from Ukraine’s state border.

The Ukrainian drone strikes were likely aimed at disrupting the supply of fiber optic cables for FPV drones actively used by the Russian invading army.

This technology makes the drones resistant to electronic warfare jamming systems.

The media notes that after the Optic Fiber Systems plant was put out of operation, Russian companies manufacturing fiber-optic cables became 100% dependent on fiber-optic supplies from China.

Meanwhile, starting in 2026, Chinese suppliers increased prices for fiber optic materials for Russian buyers by 2.5 to 4 times. The sharp rise is attributed to a surge in demand.