Russian kamikaze drone destroys Ukrainian radar – MOD (VIDEO)
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said a UAV unit operating Geran-2 drones had conducted the strike near the settlement of Borzna.
A short video clip accompanying the statement depicts what appears to be several military vehicles moments before being hit by the drone. A powerful explosion follows, with plumes of black smoke billowing from the site.
Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry said similar explosives-laden UAVs had obliterated a Ukrainian marines' position in Russia's Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
In a separate attack around the same time, Russian Geran-2 drones hit a Ukrainian UAV workshop in Sumy Region, according to military officials in Moscow.
Several days earlier, the ministry released footage of a purported strike on a Ukrainian ammunition depot in the DPR.
The Geran-2 employs a 'flying wing' aerodynamic configuration and carries a 40kg+ warhead, with an operational range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles). While the UAV typically travels at relatively moderate speeds (around 150-170kph or 93-105mph), its low radar signature and the ability to fly intricate trajectories has enabled the kamikaze drone to effectively penetrate Ukrainian air defenses.
Russian forces usually launch Gerans in large numbers, which further increases the likelihood of at least some of the UAVs reaching their targets.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the Russian military has deployed long-range drones to strike dual-purpose infrastructure, military installations, and Ukrainian weapon storage sites.
The rapid production rate of the Geran-2 – dozens or even hundreds monthly – has enabled Moscow's forces to launch UAV swarms on an almost daily basis.
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