Russia's only fiber optic plant has remained shut down for nearly a year following a Ukrainian drone strike, as reported by The Moscow Times on February 26, 2026, according to a post by @Rebel44CZ captured during the 89-minute reporting window from 12:15:41 AM to 1:45:31 AM UTC on February 27. The plant's prolonged closure disrupts Russia's production of fiber optic cables critical for military applications, including kamikaze drones. Separately, prices for Chinese-made fiber-optic cables used in many Russian drones have nearly quadrupled due to surging global demand from AI data centers, @ChrisO_wiki stated in a post during the same window, raising concerns over potential shortages for Russian operations. These developments compound challenges for Russia's drone program amid ongoing Ukrainian military actions. The fiber optic plant strike occurred over the past year, with the Moscow Times confirming the near-year-long halt in operations as of February 26.
