No foreign weapons used in attacks on facilities in Russian Tatarstan, Ukraine's intelligence says

Wednesday, 3 April 2024, 12:44

No weaponry of foreign production was used during the recent drone strikes on targets in the Russian cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk.

Source: Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), in an interview with Radio Liberty

Details: Yusov noted that they would not officially confirm or deny the involvement of military intelligence or the Security Service of Ukraine in the events in Tatarstan. 

He did not specify what kind of weaponry was used exactly to strike the facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, located over 1000 kilometres from Ukraine, but he remarked that the Ukrainian drone industry is "developing very dynamically".

Quote: "We see that the rumble and ‘bavovna’ on the aggressor state's territory continue, particularly at military sites directly involved in Russia's genocidal war against Ukraine. We can state that in these events, weapons and foreign-made equipment from our partners are not utilised. This is a fact. [Bavovna is a Ukrainian word for cotton; this is a reference to how Russian propaganda, initially refusing to use the word ‘vzryv’ (explosion), used ‘khlopok’ (a bang) instead. However, ‘khlopok’ also means cotton, and this has since become a meme – ed.].

Ukrainian drone manufacturing is developing rapidly, which is a fact. There's no need to hide it. Naturally, all modern technologies available worldwide are being applied to enhance Ukrainian strike capabilities regarding range and precision. Yes, work is underway on this, and modern technologies are being utilised.

When the opportunity arises, we can examine and discuss all of this in more detail. When the opportunity to showcase the Magura V5 (Ukrainian multipurpose drone) arose, the world saw it thoroughly and up close. For now, additional information on this topic is, let's say, undesirable for security reasons."

Details: The intelligence representative also confirmed that one of the facilities targeted by the UAV attack was involved in the production of kamikaze drones. Additionally, one of the buildings adjacent to the enterprise was hit by Russian air defence systems, he said.

Quote: "Yes, we're talking specifically about the facility involved in assembling Shahed drones and the so-called Geran drones (HESA Shahed 136). And indeed, these targets were hit. The interesting point is that part of the destruction of other nearby facilities resulted from the action of the Russian so-called anti-aircraft defence, [from] anti-missile [defence]. This has happened before. While attempting to shoot down other targets, they usually end up causing the most damage to themselves."

Background:

  • Drones attacked facilities in Tatarstan – specifically in Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk – on the morning of 2 April. Local authorities stated that no serious damage was done, and the technological process of the plant remained unaffected. A source in Ukrainian intelligence said this was a special operation by the intelligence. The drones attacked a plant where Iranian Shahed drones are assembled and marked as "Geran" drones.
  • The Alabuga special economic zone’s press office stated that the drones were "equipped with NATO country equipment."
  • One of the drones struck a TANECO primary oil refining unit in Nizhnekamsk, resulting in a fire. UP sources reported that the attack on the refinery was a joint special operation by Ukraine's Defence Intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine. 

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