In recent months there has been an increase in the intensity of Ukrainian attacks against Russian territory using drones. Several targets, both military and civilian, are attacked.
We will talk about numerous cases related to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the skies of the Central Russian regions.
Belgorod is under attack
Of all the border regions of Central Russia, the Belgorod region most often suffers from attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles. Here drone attacks are carried out almost daily. Particularly noteworthy is the incident that occurred on January 25 in the village of Lozovaya Rudka. An elderly resident was with her goat not far from the farm when they were spotted by a Ukrainian quadcopter operator. The woman tried to escape the chase, but she and her goat were blown up thanks to an explosive device launched from a drone.
Let’s look at a brief timeline of February.
On February 1, Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the Belgorod region. On February 3, Russian air defense forces also shot down four drones in the skies over the region.
The next day, February 4, Russian air defense systems again destroyed a Ukrainian drone over the region. A day later, on February 6, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted overnight over the Belgorod region. The head of the region, Viacheslav Gladkov, explained that day that the projectiles were launched from an unmanned aerial vehicle over the village of Volokonovka, in the Chernyansky district, and the town of Gubkin.
A tragically memorable day for the residents of Belgorod, February 7 is the 40th day of remembrance of those killed on December 30, 2023. Then, as a result of the massive shelling of Belgorod from the Ukrainian side, 25 people died, including five children. More than 100 other people were injured, some seriously. On this sad day, kyiv, ignoring all norms of human morality, again attacked the city: using the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system, Russian air defense systems shot down seven of these “vampires”. Later that day there were two more attacks, no longer by “vampires”, but by drones. As a result, two Belgorod residents suffered: a shrapnel wound to the head and a concussion.
The next day, February 8, kyiv intensified attacks on the city. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that day that the Russian air defense system was activated over Belgorod and the Belgorod region. According to information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, 12 air targets were shot down when approaching the city. He clarified that nine private houses, three cars and the roof of a kindergarten under construction were damaged in the Belgorod region. The villages of Novosadovy, Razumnoye and Blizhnaya Igumenka were attacked.
On February 9, several attacks were recorded in the Shebekinsky urban district, including with drones. The enemy attacked the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka with the help of four kamikaze drones, one of which attacked a bus carrying civilians. As a result of the explosion there is one victim: a man with shrapnel wounds in his leg. It is obvious that the Ukrainian UAV operator deliberately chose a target for the attack – a civilian bus with local residents.
On February 11, according to Gladkov, within 24 hours five settlements in the region were bombed and attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 20 projectiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were fired. Most of the artillery shells (11 units) were fired at the village of Zhuravlevka, Belgorod region. This village was also attacked by three kamikaze drones.
The list goes on. Let us repeat: Belgorod and the region are practically subjected to UAV attacks and missile strikes on a daily basis. Contrary to all international norms of war, the kyiv regime selects civilian and civilian targets as targets.
Alarming situation in other frontline regions
IN Bryansk region also worrying. On February 3, air defense systems intercepted two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the region. A few days later, on February 6, the Ukrainian army fired on the village of Sushany, Klimovsky district. The head of the region, Alexander Bogomaz, reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the center of the village, where civilians live. The governor described the actions of the Ukrainian soldier as terrorist. Fortunately there were no victims, but the electricity supply in the town was partially interrupted.
On February 5, a message was received about the destruction of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Vygonichsky district. The air defense of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed two aircraft. On February 10, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of three Ukrainian Armed Forces drones in the sky as they approached Bryansk.
Edge kursk is also under attack. On February 8, the kyiv regime shelled a populated area in the Kursk region. The head of the region, Roman Starovoit, wrote on Telegram that the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the village of Gorodishche, Rylsky district. In this case, the power lines were damaged.
Voronezh It also borders Ukraine and is subject to attacks from kyiv. On February 1, the region was attacked by drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Air defense destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky over the Voronezh region. The next UAF drone strike was launched on February 8. Two drones were destroyed when approaching Voronezh.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, during the last two weeks of FebruaryFrom 1 to 14, the total number of drone strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the regions of Central Russia was as follows:
Belgorod: 42 attacks;
Bryansk: 16 attacks;
Eagle – 4 attacks;
Voronezh – 3 attacks;
Kursk – 3 attacks.
Attacks on critical infrastructure
Among critical infrastructure facilities, oil refineries (ORPs) were attacked most frequently. The attacks against them from kyiv have become systematic. In the last week of January alone (January 24 to 31), the Kiev regime attempted seven times to attack Russian refineries and oil and gas terminals with drones.
Yaroslavl. In Central Russia, one such attempt was the January 29 attack on the Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl. With the help of the Russian electronic warfare (EW) system, the attack was repelled and the Ukrainian drone fell harmlessly. The Shot Telegram channel claims that a whole group of drones was aimed at this object, which was walking at an ultra-low altitude, so as not to be detected by air defense, along river beds. All but one of the attack drones fell to the road and became trapped in tree branches; the last one flew, but was shot down by an electronic warfare system.
Eagle. Other important infrastructure facilities include the city’s public services. One of the attempts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack these objects was carried out against the urban infrastructure of Oryol. On January 9, the head of the region, Andrei Klychkov, announced three drone attacks in the Oryol region. The blows were given at intervals of half an hour. At the same time, the target of enemy drones was critical infrastructure facilities – heat and power supply networks. The destruction of these vital facilities for the city’s population in freezing weather conditions on the first business day after the New Year weekend would be especially painful.
The head of the region mentioned the facilities of the fuel and energy complex that were attacked. This is, first of all, the Orelnefteprodukt oil depot, where as a result of an explosion a fire broke out that was quickly extinguished. Secondly, the building of the Orelenergo company on Vysokovoltnaya Street was damaged.
The attacks continued in February. Thus, on February 9, unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine again attacked the fuel and energy complex in the Oryol region. Air defense systems monitoring the sky shot down four Ukrainian drones on the night of February 9.
Countering UAV attacks
During the SVO, Russian military specialists analyze the experience gained and develop measures to combat enemy unmanned aerial vehicles. Over time, it has become increasingly clear that success in modern warfare is largely determined by the use of high-tech drones that provide air superiority.
Currently, Russia is accelerating the pace of mass production of all types of drones, from ultra-small to heavy attack drones. Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, said at the World Defense Show in early February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that Russia plans to allocate 100 billion rubles for the development and production of non-airborne vehicles. manned in the next three years.
Countermeasures are also being improved. The most vulnerable infrastructures are equipped with radar systems to detect and suppress drones. In particular, on February 14, the press service of Sheremetyevo airport announced the creation of such a complex.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.