Russia is facing significant challenges in conducting combat operations against Ukraine due to the increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian weapons supplies, ammunition depots, and fuel refineries. Brigadier General Yuriy Shchygol, who coordinates long-range drone strikes for Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, stated that these attacks will continue to escalate, and Ukraine plans to more than quadruple the production rate of deep strike drones with a range of hundreds of miles to over 2,000 aircraft per month.
In response to the attacks, Russia is finding it increasingly difficult to conceal the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. According to General Shchygol, headquarters have been hit, command structures weakened, and panic is spreading among Russian officers. He also revealed that Ukrainian drones have targeted and destroyed over 3,000 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, resulting in a significant decrease in their deployment.
Sky News has been granted rare access to view a secretive drone mission, where Ukrainian soldiers prepared a line of drones known as “Lutti,” which is Ukrainian for “Fury.” These drones, resembling large grey metal mosquitos, are launched into the darkness to target specific locations, including an ammunition depot inside Russia. The drones have a success rate of 70 to 80% and have proven to be effective in changing the dynamics of the war.
The success of Ukraine’s drone strikes can be attributed to the sheer size of Russia, which makes it difficult for the Russian military to protect all its facilities. Additionally, the planning and reconnaissance effort that underpins the strikes ensures coordination between different teams and varying volumes of drones are used for each mission, with complex strikes requiring up to 100 unmanned aircraft.
Overall, the advancement and innovation in autonomous machines have transformed the warzone, with Ukraine’s battlefield experience serving as a guide for the world.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/inside-a-top-secret-ukrainian-drone-mission-as-commander-says-they-are-changing-the-war-13320824
