Ukrainian UAVs have been used in a series of overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, causing a large fire at an oil refinery in Smolensk province. The exact number of aircraft deployed by Ukraine is unknown, but reports suggest that the attacks were part of a larger campaign aimed at disrupting Russia’s supply chain and damaging its export industry.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that Russian air defense successfully intercepted and destroyed eight Ukrainian UAVs in different provinces. Governors in other provinces, such as Voronezh and Lipetsk Oblast, also reported incidents involving Ukrainian UAVs. Western experts believe that these attacks are aimed at Moscow’s economic lifeline, leaving Russia vulnerable in the event of a conflict.
The use of drones for military purposes is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with some reports suggesting that Ukrainian forces have equipped the drones with artificial intelligence technology to overcome electronic jamming. The attacks are causing explosions and civilian casualties on Moscow’s territory. Ukraine’s deployment of large-scale UAV attacks against Russian energy infrastructure is seen as a threat to both countries’ security and stability.
