Posted on 06/22/2022 7:41:21 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
A Ukrainian kamikaze drone today ploughed in to a major oil refinery inside Russian territory, sparking a huge fireball explosion.
Footage shows the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying at a low-level height towards the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region, which borders Ukraine.
Video then shows the drone striking the oil refinery, causing a massive explosion which was heard ten miles away.
Flames engulfed the building and black smoke poured from the key strategic facilities, located some four miles from the pro-Putin puppet state Luhansk People's Republic in Ukraine.
Russian workers, who unwittingly filmed the drone strike, were heard laughing at the sight of the drone as it flew close to them - but they panicked and swore repeatedly after it struck the refinery, with one shouting 'f*****g run away'.
-snip-
Workers nearby are heard on a video as they watched the approaching military drone.
Initially they were relaxed as it flew close to them but they swore repeatedly as the unmanned craft struck the oil plant triggering a huge explosion.
One is heard saying: 'It came from the Ukrainian side, didn't it?'
Another answers: 'Yes, yes.'
One asks: 'Do we stop work?'
Another replies: 'The plant is on fire. F***ing run away.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
RUNAWAY \o/ RUNAWAY
Refineries are fair targets. Won’t change the war at this point (it’s lost), but if it makes the Neocons feel better, than why not.
Don’t give the greenies over here ideas.
what’s the range of these things? the Ukes should seed a few to Moscow...
Think of all the groups that would like to damage US oil refineries. Greenies, ISIS, BLM, antifa, and Democrats.
Not sure we would be allowed to repair them, much less replace them.
From looking at the pic, the drone appears to be a Bayraktar TB2 drone. Here's a link to the drone specs: The Bayraktar TB2
From the link:
1. Fully Automatic Navigation and Route Tracking Feature
2. Precise Auto Takeoff and Landing with Built-in Sensor Fusion
3. Fully Automatic Taxi and Parking Feature
4. Semi-Autonomous Flight Modes Support
5. Fault Tolerant and 3 Redundant Sensor Fusion Application
6. Cross Redundant YKI System
7. Unique Redundant Servo Actuator Units
8. Unique Redundant Lithium-Based Battery Units
My take...
Self contained navigation and not susceptible to GPS jamming.
With sensor fusion, the DMPI can be pre-programmed.
With Semi-Autonomous Flight Modes, the drone can be launched "Fire and Forget".
Seems like Russia is unfamiliar with High Value Asset Protection Mission (HVAP).
My guess is that with the ability to take out armor with artillery, Ukraine will now use more of these drones for strikes inside Russia.
That’s what I was getting at.
Aren’t byaktar more than $5 million each?
I didn’t think they use those for suicide mission.
Kamikaze?
According to Military Today, the price is around $5 million each. Bayraktar TB2
I didn’t think they use those for suicide mission.
This is the first time I have read where they used the drone on a suicide mission. Given the success of this mission, I expect to see more.
The question I would have is why wasn't it shot down?
It was a daytime mission. It flew over a lot of Russian controlled territory before it entered Russian airspace. Surely the refinery would have S-400 coverage.
This is not good news for Russia.
I’m saying I don’t think it was a Bayraktar.
There’s no way Ukraine can afford to suicide something that cost so much.
It may not have even caused more damage than it cost if it was a bayraktar.
There are a lot of drones that have a similar profile and tail (though smaller size than bayraktar)
...right, well, you have to understand, the drone operator was inside the refinery...
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