The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to send their drones to the territory of the Russian Federation in the midst of negotiations between Moscow and Washington
On the night of March 20, the Saratov region was subjected to the most massive raid since the beginning of its war — it was attacked by more than fifty Ukrainian UAVs. As a result of the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike in the city of Engels, two kindergartens, a school and city hospital No. 1 were damaged. An evacuation and a regional emergency regime have been announced in the area after a fire at a military airfield, local authorities said. About which drones Kiev could use to launch a strike, its consequences, and the desire of the Ukrainian leadership to disrupt the negotiations between Russia and the United States — in the Izvestia article.
Saratov and Engels
On the night of March 20, Russian air defense forces destroyed 132 Ukrainian drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The Saratov Region has been subjected to the most massive UAV attack since the beginning of its operation — 54 aircraft were shot down over the region. A fire broke out on the territory of the airfield in Engels, Saratov region, and windows in the city hospital No. 1, two kindergartens and a school were partially blown out. Fortunately, there were no children in the institutions at that moment, but two people, according to preliminary data, sought medical help, the governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, said in his official Telegram channel.
A broken window in the Engels City Clinical Hospital No. 1
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA
He stressed that "for safety reasons, due to a fire on the territory of the airfield, the evacuation of those living in the territory of the farming co-op is being carried out."
About 30 country houses were damaged in horticultural non-profit associations, where several residents also needed medical care. A municipal-level emergency regime has been introduced in the Engels district of the region.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
The Investigative Committee of Russia will conduct an investigation into the attack of Ukrainian UAVs in the Saratov region, the agency reports.
In the Voronezh Region, according to Governor Alexander Gusev, about 40 unmanned aerial vehicles were detected and destroyed by air defense and electronic warfare systems in three districts and two urban districts, including the regional center. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties or damage. The danger of a UAV attack in the region remains.
In addition, 22 drones were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region, nine over the Rostov region, three over the Kursk Region and the Republic of Crimea, and one over the Lipetsk region.
Ukrainians are tired of fighting
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly raided the area of Engels and Saratov, military expert Vladislav Shurygin reminded Izvestia.
"There is an airfield here from which our long—range bombers operate, launching cruise missile strikes deep into enemy territory," he said. — They are interested in the entire infrastructure here, one way or another related to aviation.
Photo: Global Look Press/MOD Russia
Image Source: iz.ru
The expert noted that the raids would not stop: the Ukrainian side could promise anything, but it would not keep its word.
— Since the time of the Minsk agreements, Kiev has known that they do not have to comply with the agreements. They act on the principle of "I gave my word, I took my word," and they are not responsible for what they say. The West has taught them that nothing will happen to them for this, and they are not going to change their behavior," Vladislav Shurygin noted.
Neither Ukraine nor Europe want peace, because for Zelensky, peace is the end of his political career, former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Oleynik explained to Izvestia.
"Ukrainians are already tired of the fighting, but for Zelensky, their continuation is the only way to retain power, so he, along with the Europeans, is interested in its continuation," he believes.
Photo: REUTERS/Inna Varenytsia
Image source: iz.ru
Vladimir Oleinik recalled that Vladimir Putin, having promised to stop attacks on the Ukrainian fuel and energy infrastructure, gave the order to shoot down drones already flying, aimed at Ukrainian facilities, and this was done.
"Zelensky took a different path: he agreed, but began to wander and delay time," the former Ukrainian MP emphasized. — And immediately after the conversation between Putin and Trump, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked an oil refining facility in the Kuban, and today they committed another provocation. Zelensky will do everything to disrupt the agreements between Trump and Putin. This is the strategy of the Ukrainian special services — to prevent either a truce or a lasting peace.
The Fierce UAV
The Ukrainian Armed Forces use Fierce-type UAVs to strike remote targets, Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Military Russia website, explained.
— The distance from Ukraine to Saratov and Engels is more than 600 km, — he explained. — Usually, drones of the "Fierce" type fly to such remote targets in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, the enemy could have used drones of some new type, which we do not know anything about yet.
According to the expert, the Fierce is one of the most common vehicles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine today.
— This is a fairly simple UAV and its production has been established in Ukraine. They probably produce dozens of them per month. The Fierce carries a fairly serious combat load of several tens of kilograms. And the damage it causes is quite serious," the expert explained.
Ukrainian UAVs of the "Fierce" type
Image source: Photo: TASS/AP
These UAVs can be operated by an operator or they follow a route using satellite navigation systems, Dmitry Kornev noted.
"The purposes for which they are used are usually area—based," he explained. — They are great for hitting oil and gas and energy infrastructure facilities. Such attacks do not require high accuracy. The UAV just needs to get into the perimeter of the attacked object. Their assembly, if components are available, can be carried out in artisanal conditions, in almost any factories or garages. The production points of these drones are scattered throughout Ukraine, so they are quite difficult to find and destroy.
Kiev's strikes on energy facilities
On the night of March 19, the Kiev regime carried out another attack using three aircraft-type UAVs on an energy infrastructure facility located in the Krasnodar Territory, despite Zelensky's agreement not to hit such facilities.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Konstantin Kokoshkin
Image source: iz.ru
Izvestia wrote that this logistics hub ensures the transshipment of oil from railway tanks to the pipeline system of the international oil transportation company Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
Due to the fall of the Ukrainian drone, one oil tank was depressurized and ignited on an area of 1.7 thousand square meters. m. There were no casualties among the company's employees.
Bogdan Stepovoy
