Ukraine escalates drone attacks on Russian territory
(MENAFN) In recent weeks, Ukraine has escalated drone attacks on Russian territory, particularly targeting populated areas and critical oil and gas infrastructure. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported significant drone interceptions on Thursday, with 54 drones shot down in Saratov, 40 in Voronezh, and 22 in Belgorod. Smaller numbers of drones were intercepted in other regions, bringing the total to 132 drones downed by Russian air defenses.
One of the notable incidents occurred in Engels, a city located over 600 kilometers from Ukraine, where a local hospital suffered substantial damage due to a drone strike. Additionally, on March 11, Ukraine launched an attack with 337 drones on Moscow and surrounding areas, with UAVs shot down at distances between 700 and 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
These developments raise important questions about the types of drones used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) to carry out such long-range attacks and how these threats can be effectively countered.
The Liutiy drone, which has been frequently spotted in videos from eyewitnesses, is one of the primary UAVs used in these attacks. Developed by Ukraine’s military-industrial company Ukroboronprom, the Liutiy shares a design similar to Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2, featuring a twin-boom tail structure and a conventional airplane layout. It measures 4 meters in length and has a wingspan of 7 meters. Powered by a piston engine and a pushing propeller, the Liutiy can reach speeds of about 150 km/h and has an impressive range of 1,300 to 1,500 kilometers. This extended range allows the drone to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting regions like Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.
The Liutiy is capable of carrying 50-75 kilograms of explosives and uses autonomous control systems, likely relying on satellite navigation for targeting, with minimal manual intervention. Although these drones are cost-effective and can be mass-produced at a rate of dozens per month, they remain vulnerable to standard air-defense systems. However, the drones' ability to target locations with insufficient air defenses makes them a potent threat in ongoing conflict.
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