what’s new
According to a telegram post from the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Ukrainian military intelligence says Russia’s Shahed 136 drone warehouse was engulfed in a “catastrophic” fire that destroyed $16 million worth of drone parts. announced.
The Elabuga drone factory is located in Russia’s Arabuga Special Economic Zone, more than 1,300 miles from the border with Ukraine, and produces Shahed, Iran’s suicide attack drone, for Moscow’s military.
⚡️A warehouse containing $16 million worth of Shahid drone parts was destroyed in Arabuga, Russia – Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service.
The site housed 65 attack drone fuselages, as well as engines, navigation systems, and infrared cameras to produce 400. pic.twitter.com/aKljowHt5g
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) December 23, 2024
Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment via email.
Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press
why is it important
The Ukrainian warehouse strike is significant as $16 million worth of drone parts were destroyed as Russia faces an equipment shortage that saw losses hit a two-year high in November.
The attack is also one of many carried out by the Kiev government against Russian ammunition storage and weapons production facilities aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to continue fighting.
What you need to know
Ukraine pointed out that the warehouse contained “65 fuselages of attack drones, as well as engines for the production of 400 Shahed 136s, navigation systems, and infrared cameras,” adding that “all were destroyed in a fire.” I wrote it down. Kiev also described the fire as “mysterious” but gave no further details.
The Yelabuga drone factory, which opened in July last year, produces the Albatross reconnaissance drone in addition to the Russian-made Shahid drone, and the Kyiv Independent reported that Ukraine had previously attacked this factory.
Russia has repeatedly used Iranian-made Shahid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in attacks throughout its war with Ukraine, and in November began installing equipment to increase the impact of its attacks. Moscow has added thermobaric warheads to its kamikaze drones, as well as equipped them with Russian cometa navigation units and Chinese control panels.
The use of Shahid drones has increased the risk of civilian casualties in both Moscow and Kiev, and Andriy Kovalenko, director of the Ukraine Counter-Disinformation Center, has previously said the drones pose a challenge to Ukraine’s air defenses. said. Iran has previously denied allegations that it sent ballistic missiles and drones to Russia.
people’s opinions
“Mysterious and devastating fire is yet another blow to terrorist Russia’s military-industrial complex,” GUR wrote in a post.
It added: “The Directorate General of Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminds that there will be fair retribution for any war crimes committed against the Ukrainian people.”
what happens next
Russia may need to replace the Shahid drone with other drones or ballistic missiles while it rebuilds its stockpile of drone parts destroyed in the fire.
