Russia Attacks Kyiv Paper Mill Owned by Austrian-German Group, Halting Production
On April 3, 2023, a Russian Shahed drone struck the Kyiv cardboard and paper mill, leading to a temporary halt in production at the facility, which reported revenues of $184 million in 2025. This attack marks yet another incident in a series of drone strikes targeting civilian enterprises since 2022.
On April 3, 2023, a Russian drone identified as Shahed launched an attack on the Kyiv cardboard and paper mill, resulting in a temporary suspension of operations at the facility. This mill, which generated a revenue of $184 million in 2025, is now facing significant disruptions. The attack is part of a broader pattern of Russian drone strikes aimed at civilian targets, a trend that has persisted since 2022. Representatives from the mill have warned that the suspension of operations threatens the supply of essential products used daily by thousands of Ukrainian households, emphasizing that the safety of personnel remains their top priority.
The Kyiv cardboard and paper mill is a subsidiary of Pulp Mill Holding GmbH, an Austrian-German group headquartered in Vienna and managed by director Heinz Zinner. This group owns various Ukrainian assets, including the mill itself, as well as PJSC 'Energia' and Pulp Mill Print, among others. In a company press release, they stated, 'Strikes on such facilities represent an attack on civilian industry and the basic everyday needs of ordinary Ukrainians.'
According to analytical data from YouControl, the mill reported a revenue of 8.06 billion hryvnias (approximately $184 million) in 2025 and recorded a net profit of 419 million hryvnias (around $9.6 million) for the year. The facility produces widely used consumer paper products, including the 'Obukhiv 65' brand of napkins, the 'Divo' product line, various sanitary and hygiene items, as well as corrugated packaging. The company has stressed that the attack was directed solely at civilian infrastructure and had no connection to military production or defense contracts.
Management at the mill has indicated that they are 'constantly monitoring the situation in conjunction with the relevant emergency response services,' although they have not provided further details regarding the measures taken or an assessment of damages. The mill expressed hope for a return to full operation and thanked its customers for their continued support during this challenging time.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is testing new technologies in response to the ongoing conflict. A Belgian company specializing in tank upgrades has modernized the Leopard 1 tank, originally produced in the 1960s, to meet the demands of 21st-century warfare amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv is currently testing a prototype of this upgraded tank.
Olena Hrazhdan is a business journalist for Kyiv Post, covering Ukraine's markets and business news.