(ConservativeJournal.org) – According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency’s report on October 1, drone strikes targeted Smolensk in Russia, causing significant damage to the Smolensk Aviation Plant. The plant is known for producing Kh-59 cruise missiles.
The report stated that out of the four drones launched, three struck the plant, resulting in considerable damage and disruption to its manufacturing capabilities.
Drone attacks have become a frequent occurrence both in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and within Russia itself. Ukraine has been dependent heavily on drones and western military vehicles.
Ukraine initiated its counteroffensive in early June across three main sectors in the eastern and south-eastern regions. Forbes has indicated that as of late August, only five Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks were destroyed during the ongoing counteroffensive. The extent of Ukraine’s losses remains undisclosed, and Germany has stated it possesses “no information” regarding destroyed Leopard 2 tanks. The losses mainly occurred during the initial weeks of the counteroffensive near the village of Robotyne in south-eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
In July, Germany and Poland agreed to establish a repair center for Leopard 2 tanks damaged in Ukraine. NATO was previously reported to be planning a larger repair and maintenance facility in Poland for Ukrainian military equipment, primarily tanks and armored vehicles.
Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that Ukrainian drone units, supported by the “Army of Drones” initiative, successfully destroyed or damaged nearly 70 towed artillery pieces and 16 self-propelled howitzers of the Russian military from September 25 to October 2. Fedorov described this as a record number of Russian artillery pieces hit by drones procured through the initiative within a week.
“Army of Drones” is a collaborative project between the Digital Transformation Ministry and the government’s UNITED24 fundraising platform. Launched in July 2022, the initiative has actor Mark Hamill as its ambassador and focuses on drone procurement, repairs, and training soldiers in drone operation.
Over the past week, the drones targeted a total of 220 pieces of Russian military equipment, including 33 tanks, 41 trucks, and 37 armored fighting vehicles.
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