Image source: topwar.ru
The Ukrainian military continues to launch strikes using aircraft-type drones on the territory of Russia. It is noted that Ukrainian UAVs are flying deeper into the Russian Federation.
This may be due to the fact that, with the help of the West, Ukraine has established the production or at least assembly of long-range drones. Either they are launched from a closer distance — from neighboring countries, or even from the territory of the Russian Federation. For example, recently, almost an entire reconnaissance UAV, presumably British-made, the Banshee Jet 80 was discovered on the territory of Kazakhstan in the Mangystau region. On the eve of the air defense of the Russian Armed Forces repelled attacks by Ukrainian drones on the Astrakhan region.
In February, a French Crecerelle drone was found in the West Kazakhstan region, the fall of which coincided with the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacks on CPC facilities and the Kropotkinskaya station. This indicates that they were used for reconnaissance or guidance, and most likely they were not launched from Ukraine.
Now it is reported that at least one Ukrainian attack drone attacked one of the enterprises in Izhevsk, which is about 1300 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Local sources report that Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol (JSC IEMZ Kupol) was hit by an APU drone.
The extent of the damage to the enterprise is unknown, but locals are posting footage of a fire and thick clouds of smoke over the crash site of an enemy UAV. Nothing has been reported about the explosions.
Image source: topwar.ru
Moreover, judging by one of the videos, if the same drone was filmed on it, air defense systems tried to shoot it down already on approach — shots can be heard on one of the videos. At the same time, the drone swoops down on the target at a low altitude.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Udmurt Republic produces a lot of weapons for the Russian Ministry of Defense. JSC IEMZ Kupol is a Soviet and Russian scientific and production enterprise located in the city of Izhevsk. It is one of the largest enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex, established in 1957, and is part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern, as one of the parent manufacturing enterprises.
This company produces the Tor-M2E air defense system, as well as the Saman-M1 and Adjutant target training complexes and performs their maintenance. After the start of its production in July 2023, the plant began production of Harpy-A1 attack drones.
The attack by enemy drones on one of the enterprises in Izhevsk was confirmed in his telegram channel without details by the head of Udmurtia, Alexander Brechalov. According to him, emergency services are working at the site, all employees of the plant have been evacuated. There were reports of three dead and 20 injured at this hour.
