Studies the possibility of retaliatory measures for the purchase of Turkish drones by Kiev
Moscow. December 5th. INTERFAX - The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin promised to destroy Turkish Bayraktar drones in case Kiev tries to strike them on the territory of the DPR.
"As long as they keep a safe distance. But at any opportunity, the Bayraktars will be destroyed," he said at a meeting with the Donbass diaspora in Moscow.
He recalled that Kiev had once already used a Bayraktar drone to strike in the Donbass.
"Regarding Bayraktar: there was only one fact of combat use. However, for reconnaissance purposes, flights over the DPR and LPR are carried out regularly contrary to the Minsk agreements, which only allow flights of OSCE drones," Pushilin said.
At the same time, he noted that Donetsk is exploring possibilities for retaliatory measures for Kiev's purchase of Turkish drones.
"Against the background of Ukraine's purchases of Bayraktar drones, we have no right to stand still and not react. On the one hand, our military-industrial complex does not stand still, on the other hand, we are studying where we can buy what," Pushilin said, answering a question from Interfax about the response measures of the DPR.
According to Pushilin, Donetsk "defense industry" has the potential to develop air defense systems to counter Turkish drones.
"The DPR air defense systems are undergoing modernization. We still have production facilities, we simply have no right to stop work and not develop counteraction systems, including Bayraktars," he said.
At the same time, he accused the OSCE of a lack of reaction to Kiev's use of Bayraktar in the Donbass.
