Ukraine's Fire Point drones become main strike force behind Moscow attacks
What role did Fire Point drones play in the massive attack on Moscow (Photo: RBC-Ukraine)
Drones produced by the Ukrainian company Fire Point became the primary deep-strike weapon during a large-scale attack on Russia, including Moscow, stated the commander of a strike UAV company within the Unmanned Systems Forces, known by the callsign "Jakonda."
Fire Point drones formed the backbone of the recent attack on the Russian capital.
"Various types of drones were used in this attack, including decoy UAVs, but Fire Point drones made up the main striking force. They are our primary deep-strike tool. Thanks to these drones, we continuously hit targets deep behind enemy lines," Jakonda said.
According to the commander, the key factors behind the operation's success were mass production and the sheer number of drones deployed simultaneously.
"When that many drones are in the air at once, any air defense system becomes exhausted. This is especially true in a country with such a vast territory as Russia. They are forced to redeploy air defense systems to Moscow, weakening defenses in other areas," he explained.
The military added that despite Russia's extensive use of electronic warfare systems, most Ukrainian UAVs reached their designated targets during the latest attack. He also emphasized the economic efficiency of the drones.
"One Fire Point drone costs up to $60,000. For an effect of this scale, that's essentially pennies. Drones allow us to fight smart and efficiently," Jakonda said.
According to him, the scaling up of Fire Point production has transformed what was once considered a complex special operation into a daily practice for Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces.
"If similar operations used to take place once a month, hundreds of drones are now operating every day, both over temporarily occupied territories and deep inside Russia. In effect, the strike zone has expanded to cover the entire territory of Russia," Jakonda concluded.
Moscow under massive drone attack
On the morning of June 18, swarms of drones launched a large-scale attack on Moscow. According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, Russian air defenses allegedly intercepted nearly 200 drones.
During the attack, the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya was hit again. A massive fire with multiple hot spots broke out on the facility's premises, while thick black smoke spread across the city.
Drone attacks on Moscow continued on June 19, with local authorities reporting air defense activity over the Russian capital.
According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Ukrainian strikes on Moscow exposed weaknesses in Russia's air defenses. Following the attacks, several pro-war Russian military bloggers openly criticized censorship and the authorities' inability to shield the population from the consequences of the war.
