Ukraine to use long-range drones that can attack the Ural and the Arctic – BILD

Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked targets in Tatarstan, Russia, with drones for the first time. The targets are 1300 km away from the front line, deep in Russia’s rear. A Ukrainian UJ-22 drone was used for one of the strikes. 

Previously, it was believed that the range of this powerful Ukrainian drone was 800 km. Presumably, it was modified by adding fuel tanks, which allowed the drone to cover longer distances.

For the second attack, a drone based on the Ukrainian ultralight aircraft Aeropract A-22 “Flying Fox” was used.

According to the German newspaper BILD, this year Ukraine will be able to use drones with a range of over 2,000 kilometers or more. They will make up for the shortage of medium- and long-range missiles. “Missiles are a thing of the past. Drones are the future,” the BILD source said. 

According to him, 10 manufacturers will supply unmanned drones with a range of up to 2,500 km by the end of the year. And Kyiv’s Luch Design Bureau has developed the Sokil-3000 drone, which can fly up to 3300 km.

According to BILD’s calculations, the new Ukrainian weapon will be able to attack targets, for example, in the Murmansk region. There are about 80 Russian military bases there. Among them is the Olenya airfield, where strategic bombers are based and are firing cruise missiles at Ukraine.

Meanwhile, strikes by Ukrainian long-range drones on Russian strategic facilities continue. On April 5, at least six Russian aircraft were destroyed in a night attack at the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources. 

Another eight planes were heavily damaged, and about 20 Russian soldiers were killed or injured. It is likely that the attack was carried out by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) jointly with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Su-24, Su-24M, and Su-34 bombers were based at the airfield.

At the same time, the sources emphasized that “this is an important special operation that will significantly reduce the combat potential” of the Russian invading forces.

Earlier, on April 5, the governor of the Rostov region of the Russian Federation announced a large-scale drone attack in the Morozovsky district. The official claimed that the air defense system allegedly shot down more than 40 drones.