Last Thursday, Ukrainian drones reached targets located on the western slopes of the Ural Mountains, such as the Azot chemical plant in Berezniki in Perm Krai, Belsat recalled. The website noted that the attack was also reported by the local authorities, who reported the explosion of two unmanned aerial vehicles. Both covered a distance of at least 1.7 thousand. kilometers.
A day later – as Belsat points out – several Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery in the city of Orsk, approx. 1.5 thousand. km from the territory of Ukraine. It was emphasized that the attack was carried out during the day, which allows the drone to be identified as An-196 Luty (Polish: ruthless).
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Belsat emphasized that the Luty attack drone, which was first used in combat in early May 2023, was constantly modified and improved. According to its current parameters, it can carry a warhead weighing up to 75 kg and reach a speed of up to 200 km per hour, and the production cost of such a device is estimated at PLN 200,000. dollars. This means it is “significantly cheaper than Western cruise missiles,” Belsat wrote.
One of the advantages of this type of drones is the use of satellite navigation and an image recognition system that is activated after approaching the target. Thanks to this, the drone is to be resistant to Russian electronic warfare systems.
Ukrainian drones attack targets deep in Russia
Belsat also recalled that at the end of last week, Ukrainian drones attacked targets in northwestern Russia: an oil refinery in the city of Kirishi in the Leningrad Oblast, approximately 800 km away, and a warship stationed on Lake Onega, north of St. Petersburg, almost 1.1 thousand km away. km from the territory of Ukraine.
“For the first time, Ukraine was able to launch attacks on Russian territory with a range of over 1,000 km for three days in a row,” Belsat points out.
It is estimated that over the last few months, Ukrainian drones have improved their performance in terms of maximum range at least three times. If this is confirmed, it will mean that approximately 80 percent of the country will be within the range of Ukrainian drones. all oil refineries in Russia.
The portal also quotes the opinion of an expert from the Ukrainian Defense Express portal, Ivan Kirichevsky, who, according to him, is capable of producing approximately 36,000 a year. long-range strike drones. In his opinion, the introduction of mass use of FP-5 Flamingo jet missiles, which are to reach targets at a distance of up to 3,000 km and carry warheads weighing over 1.1 thousand. kg, will mean that Ukraine will also be able to threaten facilities located deeper, in the Asian part of Russia.
