Ukraine has launched a series of long-range drone attacks against key facilities in Russia, including fuel storage depots near the country’s air force bases. On January 8, drones struck a facility near the Engels bomber base in Saratov, southern Russia, causing significant damage and fires. The attack was followed by another strike six days later.
The drones have now turned their attention to the Kazan Aircraft Plant, which builds and maintains many of Russia’s long-range strategic bombers. A blast and fire at a fuel depot near the factory was reported on Sunday night, as confirmed by Russian Telegram users.
Ukraine has developed a range of advanced drone capabilities, including those based on modified sport planes, which are capable of flying hundreds of miles with explosive payloads. The attacks have been described as a “corollary” to Ukraine’s ongoing campaign against Russia’s oil industry, targeting fuel depots and refineries.
Experts say that the drone attacks aim to make the Russian war machine more costly for Moscow by disrupting supply chains and industrial sites associated with bomber bases. This approach is easier than directly targeting Russia’s bombers themselves, which are spread across dozens of bases and fly at high altitudes.
The strikes highlight Ukraine’s growing capabilities in using long-range drones to conduct precision attacks against key targets. The Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication celebrated the success of the attacks, stating that “there will be more.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/01/20/a-few-days-after-double-tapping-a-russian-bomber-base-ukraines-drones-target-the-factory-that-builds-the-bombers