A building used by Boeing in Ukraine’s capital was severely damaged during a massive Russian airstrike on 9 June, in what multiple sources say appeared to be a deliberate strike on the prominent US aerospace company.

The incident was first reported by the Financial Times, which cited six sources — including Boeing employees, Ukrainian officials, and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC). Photos verified by the FT and released by Ukraine’s state emergency service show fire crews responding to heavy damage at the site.

Targeted strike on US aerospace operations

Russia launched a barrage of 315 drones, two ballistic missiles, and five cruise missiles, hitting Kyiv, Odesa, and other Ukrainian cities. The Boeing facility was among the confirmed targets.

“No operational disruption,” said Andriy Koryagin, deputy general director of Boeing Ukraine, confirming no employees were harmed.

Boeing has operated in Ukraine for years, focusing on engineering and technical support, and had largely remained operational despite Russia’s full-scale invasion beginning in 2022.

Boeing’s deepening role in Ukraine’s defense sector

Boeing maintains a close relationship with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov, known for its heavy transport and military-capable aircraft. In 2023, Boeing and Antonov signed a memorandum of understanding to explore joint defense-related projects.

In early 2025, Boeing executives met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss collaboration on ammunition manufacturing and unmanned aerial systems.

The company was still expanding its Ukraine operations as recently as 2 June, when it posted a job opening in Kyiv for an aircraft interior design and certification engineering manager.

A Boeing spokesperson told the FT the company remains focused on employee safety and praised staff for their resilience under “difficult and dangerous circumstances.”

Strike highlights Russia’s shift toward Western defense-linked firms

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the attack on Boeing highlights a growing pattern.

“Russian strikes on American companies in Ukraine are yet another example of Putin’s disregard for US peace efforts,” he told the FT.

Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have warned of increasing Russian sabotage and subversion targeting Western-linked firms involved in weapons production or aid to Ukraine.

US businesses in Ukraine suffer broad impact

Boeing is not alone in being affected. According to ACC President Andy Hunder, 32% of the chamber’s nearly 700 member companies have lost employees in Russian attacks since 2022. Nearly half reported damage to offices, factories, or facilities.

A Coca-Cola plant in Kyiv Oblast was occupied and destroyed early in the war. Hunder noted that Russian soldiers who found a stash of Jack Daniel’s whiskey inside drank it, which unexpectedly slowed their advance toward the capital.

“This is part of a wider Russian campaign to degrade Ukraine’s defense production capacity,” a Ukrainian official told the FT.