Ukraine gets better at striking targets deep inside Russia, Bloomberg reports
Ukraine's Flamingo missile in action (photo from open sources)
Ukraine has stepped up long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, gas terminals, military facilities, and vessels. Advances in domestic weapons production, satellite imagery, and intelligence data have enabled this, according to Bloomberg.
The Kairos unit is a key player behind the expansion of these operations. Its results have helped Ukraine increase pressure on Russia's military infrastructure and maritime logistics.
Bloomberg says Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities have grown significantly compared with last year.
Whereas strike systems previously operated at ranges of around 100 kilometers, Ukraine now uses small, relatively inexpensive cruise missiles capable of hitting targets deep inside Russia and in temporarily occupied territories.
How Ukraine improves effectiveness of strikes
These operations rely on detailed maps, intelligence networks, and satellite imagery provided by Western partners. Energy industry specialists also help identify vulnerabilities at industrial facilities.
In September, for example, Kairos and other units set an oil refinery near Moscow on fire. In preparing the strike, the military analyzed not only current satellite imagery but also archival images to identify changes at the facility and pinpoint targets.
However, Ukrainian forces cannot use Starlink as a communications channel during strikes inside Russia, as the service is disabled there.
These operations use both remotely piloted drones and cruise missiles programmed in advance to fly toward designated targets.
What results Ukraine achieved
According to the outlet, the expansion of Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities has been accompanied by an increase in attacks on Russian oil refineries, gas terminals, tankers in the Black Sea, and military facilities.
Kairos's results have enabled the unit to expand from a battalion into the 7th Separate Unmanned Systems Center. It is now a larger formation with hundreds of service members that can also command other units.
Strikes on distant targets are also affecting the Russian economy. Bloomberg reports that consumers in Russia face shortages and rising prices, while damage to data centers disrupts internet traffic and trade.
At the same time, Ukraine faces several challenges: a cold winter is approaching, and air- and missile-defense resources are dwindling.
As reported, Ukraine's defense industry has developed the Flamingo missile, which can strike targets deep inside Russia. For example, the missile recently hit a target in Volgograd: Volgogradpromproekt, a Russian research and production enterprise specializing in specialty and fine chemicals.
A day earlier, Ukrainian drones struck the Azot chemical plant in Berezniki, in Russia's Perm Krai, causing a fire at the facility.
