A small plane converted into a suicide drone was used to attack a Russian drone factory this Tuesday (02). A video shows the unmanned aircraft exploding when it crashed into the building in the city of Yelabuga, in the Tatarstan region, about 1200 km from the border with Ukraine.
Kiev claimed responsibility for the attack, which according to the region's Ministry of Health, left 13 injured. The action marked the longest attack ever carried out by Ukraine against a target inside Russia. The factory produced Shahed drones, of Iranian origin and widely used by the Russians against Ukraine. Another attack also hit an oil refinery in nearby Nizhnekamsk.
In one of the images recorded by people, it is possible to see a large number of people watching the small plane before the attack. At the moment of the explosion, everyone ran looking for shelter.
Small Ukrainian plane – modified to fly without a pilot – crashes into industrial building in Yelabuga, Russia.
More than 800 miles (1,300 km) from the border, it's Ukraine's deepest strike into Russian territory since the war began. 12 people were injured. pic.twitter.com/PovQY4Q9hh
- BNO News (@BNONews) April 2, 2024
Internet users identified an Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat as the improvised drone used in the attack. It is a sports ultralight, manufactured in Ukraine and sold in the form of buildable kits.
Tatarstan regional leader Rustam Minnikhanov said the drones did not cause “serious” damage to the infrastructure of the drone factory or refinery, further stating that production operations were not affected. Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR), for its part, said the attack in Yelabuga “caused significant destruction of drone production facilities.” Yelabuga is located in Alabuga's “special economic zone,” an area with a special legal system designed to attract foreign investment.
The aircraft used shows indeed some similarities to the one I am flying.
Very much hope, this won't have negative implications for the aircraft manufacturer. pic.twitter.com/3oJjsJE8qX— Julian Röpcke🇺🇦 (@JulianRoepcke) April 2, 2024
“We continue to work systematically to ensure that Russia has fewer and fewer opportunities to finance the war against Ukraine. We will continue to cut off oxygen to the country from gas stations to minimize the flow of petrodollars into the military budget of the Russian Federation,” said a HUR official.
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