During the summer, Ukraine has carried out several drone attacks on Russian soil. For example, at the end of July, the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyan said that Ukraine had struck the center of Moscow with a drone.
In drone strikes, Ukraine uses technology that is so simple that almost anyone could fly similar drones. This story tells how the drones flying in the air of Ukraine work.
In addition to flying drones, Ukraine has recently used underwater drones.
1. What are Ukrainian drones like?
The drone is programmed to fly along a certain route to the target. The device destroys both the target and itself.
Engineer major, Department of Military Technology, National Defense University Mika Nieminen according to this it is probably a kamikaze drone. Kamikaze or suicide drones fly to their target, exploding and destroying themselves in the process, just like Arm missiles. The drone can carry a bomb with it, says Nieminen.
By utilizing the intelligence, the drones are programmed to fly along a specific flight path. The drone is programmed with waypoints, flight altitude and the target it needs to hit. After this, the drone is shot into the air with a catapult.
2. Do Ukrainian drones and commercial drones have anything in common?
Drones sold in the store are usually electric airplanes. The drones used by Ukraine are mainly powered by a combustion engine.
According to Nieminen, a drone equipped with a combustion engine is well suited for carrying out attacks of this kind. The drone can transport a load of a few kilograms to a distance of a few hundred kilometers, says Nieminen.
Nieminen estimates that Ukraine can manufacture drones for several thousand euros.
According to Nieminen, almost anyone can build similar drones.
– With today’s technology, it is not very difficult to develop such a drone. For example, you can order control systems and motors from the online store. 3D printing can be used to build a frame for an airplane. It’s reasonably simple.
Also an expert following the war in Ukraine John Helin Helin estimates that making drones is not difficult.
– Drones of this type can be manufactured even in technologically limited conditions.
According to Helin, the drones in question were designed and manufactured in Ukraine.
– Ukraine has tried to make drones in its home country. Ukraine’s drone industry has grown significantly in part because Western countries have been unwilling to provide long-range weapons.
3. How can a drone fly from Ukraine to Moscow?
The drones used by Ukraine have a range of several hundreds of kilometers and can be used directly from the Ukrainian border.
It is about five hundred kilometers from the Ukrainian border to Moscow. According to Helin, fuel-powered drones have a really long range. They can fly hundreds or even a thousand kilometers at best.
4. How does the drone know which target to hit?
The exact coordinate point of the target is programmed into the drone, which enables it to fly independently to the specified target.
If you want to hit a certain building with a drone, you need to know the coordinate point of that building.
By using GPS, waypoints are programmed into the drone, which allows the drone to fly independently to the target. With current technology, the drone can be guided to the target even without a satellite, says Nieminen.
Military history specialist Emil Kastehelmen according to the drones in question, it is possible to destroy individual and stationary targets.
5. How can a drone get there without being shot down by Russian air defenses?
Using intelligence, Ukraine is able to evade the Russian anti-aircraft system.
Helin estimates that by utilizing intelligence and signal information, Ukraine will be able to find gaps in Russia’s air defense.
– The most significant help that Western countries give to Ukraine is intelligence.
According to Helin, the drones used in the attacks have penetrated several gaps in the Russian air defense.
– These are relatively small airborne ships and their detection can be challenging for the Russians.
When Ukraine sends out a sufficient number of drones, someone always gets there, Nieminen estimates.
– Or the intelligence of Ukraine has optimized the flight routes so that they have passed through air defense.
Helin estimates that Russia has not been prepared for Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian soil. He also sees that Russia is such a big country that not everything can be protected.
6. What are the benefits of these drones for Ukraine?
Ukraine seeks to tie up important air defense to Russia to protect Moscow.
According to Kastehelmi, drone attacks aim to keep Russia’s air defense on its toes and tie important resources to Moscow. According to him, the attacks are proof that Ukraine is capable of repeatedly carrying out hostilities on Russian soil.
– Hits have a psychological meaning. Muscovites know that the country is at war when airplanes descend on Russian soil.
According to Helin, Ukraine also hopes to crush the Russian president Vladimir Putin prestige by carrying out drone attacks directly on Russia’s holiest city, i.e. Moscow.
– Drone attacks on Moscow cannot be hidden from the people.
Some criticism of the Russian regime related to the drone strikes has been heard from within Russia. According to Helin, several Russian bloggers have criticized, for example, Russia’s anti-aircraft system.
7. Has Ukraine admitted to drone strikes?
Ukraine has not directly admitted it, but it is likely that it is behind the drone strikes.
Ukraine has not directly admitted to being behind the drone strikes, but a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence has Andriy Yusov has told the Ukrainian media Kyiv Post that Ukraine will increase and increase its drone attacks on the Russian capital, Moscow.
Yusov said in an interview that Ukraine reserves the right to launch operations inside Russia as long as Russian forces occupy Ukrainian territory.
– None of the representatives of the occupation army and the occupation administration in any corner of the state can feel safe when an aggressive, insatiable war is being waged against Ukraine, he said.