A Ukrainian defense source said the security services (SBU) and the army carried out a “special operation” overnight against the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov-on-Don region. , in the southwest of Russia. Although the information could not be independently verified, the attack reportedly destroyed six Russian warplanes and damaged eight others. 20 staff members at the Morozovsk airfield were also killed or injured, according to kyiv.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, this operation was described as "important", this military base being used by Russian tactical bombers which the Moscow Air Force uses to fire guided bombs at the Ukrainian army and cities on the front line.,
This attack was probably carried out by drones. Although Russia did not confirm this attack on this airfield, it nevertheless claimed to have intercepted more than 40 Ukrainian drones in the region and acknowledged damage to electrical infrastructure. In difficulty on the ground and plagued by permanent bombardments, Ukraine has considerably intensified its drone attacks against targets in Russia in recent weeks.
A microlight transformed into an attack drone?
On Tuesday, a rather unusual Ukrainian drone struck the main unit of Russia's third largest oil refinery and a manufacturing plant producing Shahed drones in the Tatarstan region more than 1,100 km from Ukraine. Indeed, the drone used was in reality an ULM, Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat, modified to be piloted remotely.
The Russian Baza and Mash Telegram channels say that 3 UAVs targeted factories in Yelabuga in Russia's Tatarstan. The industrial area is reportedly where Shahed drones are produced. https://t.co/Fa1F5WYrYNhttps://t.co/MkHy8X0cEvhttps://t.co/RjVwxwKYgvhttps://t.co/pfZ7t2r8eX… pic.twitter.com/TKA8e6hQ7i
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 2, 2024
Ukrainian engineers have even added an additional tank to increase its range. This drone microlight, which still has a wingspan of 9.55 m and only flies at 155 km/h, would have flown over Russia for more than 7 hours without being detected.