One thing is certain… both sides are consummate liars who aren’t above using the deaths of their own people for propaganda.
Details: The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that on the morning of 5 December, Ukraine “attempted to carry out strikes with Soviet-made jet unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the military airbases of Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast and Engels in Saratov Oblast”.
The Ministry said that the Russian air defence system allegedly intercepted Ukrainian UAVs flying at a low altitude.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that “as a result of the fall and explosion of the fragments of jet drones on Russian airfields, the body covering of two aircraft was slightly damaged“, and “three Russian servicemen of the technical staff, who were at the airfield, were fatally wounded“.
Four more Russian servicemen were injured.
It’s curious that they specified a “Soviet” UAV. The USSR had UAVs, but they were for reconnaissance. They would also be at least 20 years old by now. And given that Ukraine has used modern drones incredibly effectively during this war, why would they use ancient Soviet drones for kamikaze attacks on a Russian nuclear base?
My best guess is that this is Putin trying to fake an attack on Russian soil to rally his people, but I don’t leave anything out of the realm of possibilities.
Swifts are pretty much Flintstones-era tech, but it’s entirely conceivable a few are still left in the Ukrainian inventory. Not quite as medieval as throwing boulders with a trebuchet, but if they’re still laying around why not find a use for them? Especially if they’re resourceful enough to modify them for a little ‘go boom’ capability.
why would they use ancient Soviet drones for kamikaze attacks on a Russian nuclear base?
Because they ran out of their own. Ukraine’s materiel- and manpower-numbers are down, significantly, from when the US/NATO finished training their armed forces.
I may be biased because I’m currently reading a biography about Putin. He’s a nasty critter. But is almost anyone who has risen to power in former Soviet states. They have to be.
No doubt about that.
But you don’t think that our CIA Director met with Russia’s Spymaster last week in Ankara to discuss the best formula for disappearing ink, do you?
It’s over for Ukraine. Russia has 500K troops just across the border waiting for the ground to freeze……
And if you believe Ron Johnson, they’re going to march on Atlanta or Chicago in Spring.
“It’s over for Ukraine. Russia has 500K troops just across the border waiting for the ground to freeze……”
How many months have you’ve been saying that, Dad?
Putin has all the time in the world. You still think he’s going to take over Western Europe, MAR?
Ive never said that. Why would you lie about that?
Putin is in an unwinnable war. And he’s going to lose more and more territory
but if they’re still laying around why not find a use for them?
Precisely. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. Any ‘old’ weapon that gets a response from an anti-weapon system depletes that anti-weapon system. It also exposes the exact location of said system.
And in this day and age 20-year old technology isn’t really old. Just reprogrammed, repurposed. We’re still flying 60-year old B52s around and with upgrades announced they are planned for use for another 30 years.
Russia has 500K troops just across the border
Doubtful. That would be slightly less than half of all the combat troops the Ruskys claim to have. They started the war with around 175k and depending on who you want to believe, 70 to 100k have already been relieved of duty by the other side.
Of course, it could have just been a Russian mistake with the drones and instead of saying ‘ancient tech with a bad modification’ or ‘training accident’ Putin just told everyone to say that it was a Ukrainian strike…
Never let a tragedy get in the way of a good propaganda opportunity.
>Any ‘old’ weapon that gets a response from an anti-weapon system depletes that anti-weapon system. It also exposes the exact location of said system.
There’s nothing stealthy about a few Swifts coming at you from 600 miles away, under 20K, and at 600+kts (and that’s assuming an unlikely optimal performance). The minor amount of damage inflicted is not the primary value here. The relatively ineffective Russian response is pure gold from an intelligence perspective. The ability of ’70s tech to reach out and touch the Russians on their own ground has certainly not gone unnoticed by the US/NATO/EU alliance.
Gen. MacGregor cites his pals in European military intel circles for the 500K figure.
MAR: Your Hero now wants to close all the Ukie Orthodox churches to complement his shutdown of all the press.
You certainly pick interesting heroes!
Correction: Colonel MacGregor