Latest news with #SerhiiSternenko
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ukraine has been catapulting drones to strike Russia's million-dollar air defenses deep behind battle lines
Ukraine's intelligence directorate (GUR) has released footage of Kyiv's UJ-26 "Bober" drone being launched via catapult to attack Russian air defenses. The video, published on Tuesday, shows the locally manufactured 8-foot-long loitering munition being slung into the air from a fixed ramp. GUR said its special forces launched the drones to attack targets in Russian-occupied Crimea. The new launch method allows the fixed-wing Bober to enter combat without landing gear, which would likely improve its range or maneuverability. Traditionally, the Bobers take off from airstrips like traditional aircraft. Given that the ramp would likely have to be set up in Ukrainian-held territory west of the Dnieper River, the drone would have to travel a minimum of roughly 60 miles to reach Russian targets in Crimea. The drones also seem to be equipped with thermal cameras in several first-person view clips uploaded by the defense intelligence agency. One montage appears to show a drone evading a missile and then flying into a $15 million Pantsir S-1 point air defense system. A second drone is also shown flying into the ground next to a Pantsir S-1 as the vehicle crew scrambles for cover. GUR described the attack as the "successful defeat" of the Pantsir, but did not show footage of the results. The intelligence agency also said it conducted similar successful attacks on three Russian radar systems — The Niobium-SV, the Pechora-3, and the Provotnik GE — as well as a fourth-generation Su-30 fighter. It uploaded several first-person view clips of drones approaching these systems with thermal cameras, though many of them can only be seen flying close to their target. Business Insider could not independently verify the damage caused. Ukrainian media regularly describe the Niobium-SV as a $100 million system. Earlier Russian estimates from before the full-scale invasion indicated that the Kremlin was acquiring the Niobium-SV in 2016 for about $40 million per unit. However, these may have since been fitted with more expensive upgrades. Meanwhile, one Bober, which translates to "beaver" in Ukrainian, reportedly costs around $110,000 to manufacture. The propeller drone is meant for long-range attacks and is known to carry the KZ-6 charge, a 6.6-pound demolition explosive designed to break through concrete or armor. It's yet another example of how the war has increasingly featured cheaper systems being used to attack and, at times, destroy expensive high-end equipment, posing difficult questions for the traditional defense procurement model that heavily prioritized advanced technology. For example, one of Ukraine's biggest community drone funds, run by activist Serhii Sternenko, reported to donors that its crowdfunded drones have damaged at least 11 Buk surface-to-air missile systems in 2025. The fund often publishes footage of such strikes. Depending on whether they have the latest upgrades, these defenses can cost Russia between $10 and $100 million each. By comparison, Sternenko's fund said it receives roughly $6 million in donations a month for its entire budget.
Arab News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Togo nationals captured with Russian forces on Ukraine front; Moscow accused of trying to murder prominent blogger
LOME, Togo: People from the small west African nation Togo have been 'captured and detained' by Ukrainian armed forces after taking part 'in military operations alongside Russian armed forces,' Togolese authorities said Friday. In a statement seen by AFP, Togo's foreign ministry said that the 'majority of compatriots, in particular young students, had left Togo under alleged scholarships offered by structures claiming to be based in Russia.' The ministry called on citizens, 'particularly young people who wish to pursue their studies abroad, to exercise utmost vigilance.' It 'urges them to verify the authenticity of scholarship offers before making any commitment, and to contact the relevant departments or any other ministry concerned... to obtain reliable and secure information before any departure abroad, particularly to Russia.' In March, the Martin Luther King Movement (MMLK), Togo's leading human rights organization, alerted the authorities to the case of a Togolese student captured on the battlefield and imprisoned in Ukraine. 'Having received his study visa at the Russian embassy in Cotonou, the compatriot left Togo for Russia on August 21, 2024,' MMLK said in a statement. 'Arriving in Russia, he was forced to join the army to go to the front in Ukraine. It was there that he was seriously wounded, captured and thrown in prison,' it said. The press also reported in recent months several cases of African nationals, often students or former prisoners, notably from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Benin, fighting with Russian forces on the Ukrainian front. Prominent blogger targetted In another development, Ukraine's internal security agency, the SBU, on Friday accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an attempt to assassinate a prominent Ukrainian blogger, accusing a 45-year-old woman of carrying out the failed hit. The attempt to kill Internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who once led the local chapter of a right-wing group but is now better known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, took place on Thursday. In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said the woman, whom it did not name, had fired several shots with a pistol, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg. The blogger said there was no danger to his life. The woman's lawyer said in court that she did not contest the facts of the case. Russia's FSB security service and its military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the SBU's allegations. The SBU did not specify which of Russia's several security services it believed to have recruited the woman, but said that they had last year told her to move into Sternenko's apartment block in Kyiv, and to pick up a pistol from a dead drop. The SBU said the woman's handler told her on the morning of May 1 to kill Sternenko outside his apartment block. The agency posted screenshots of what it said were messages between the woman and the handler and a video from a security camera showing the assassination attempt. The accused's lawyer said the contact had told the woman that Sternenko was working for Russia's FSB. The woman told the court that the contact, whose gender was not disclosed, had introduced themselves online as an SBU agent, and that she had initially feared them. Subsequently she had fallen in love with them despite never seeing their photo, she said.
Reuters
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating attempt to assassinate prominent blogger
KYIV, May 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine's internal security agency, the SBU, on Friday accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an attempt to assassinate a prominent Ukrainian blogger, accusing a 45-year-old woman of carrying out the failed hit. The attempt to kill internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who once led the local chapter of a right-wing group but is now better known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, took place on Thursday. In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said the woman, whom it did not name, had fired several shots with a pistol, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg. The blogger said there was no danger to his life. The woman's lawyer said in court that she did not contest the facts of the case. Russia's FSB security service and its military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the SBU's allegations. The SBU did not specify which of Russia's several security services it believed to have recruited the woman, but said that they had last year told her to move into Sternenko's apartment block in Kyiv, and to pick up a pistol from a dead drop. The SBU said the woman's handler told her on the morning of May 1 to kill Sternenko outside his apartment block. The agency posted screenshots of what it said were messages between the woman and the handler and a video from a security camera showing the assassination attempt. The accused's lawyer said the contact had told the woman that Sternenko was working for Russia's FSB. The woman told the court that the contact, whose gender was not disclosed, had introduced themselves online as an SBU agent, and that she had initially feared them. Subsequently she had fallen in love with them despite never seeing their photo, she said.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating attempt to assassinate prominent blogger
KYIV - Ukraine's internal security agency, the SBU, on Friday accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating an attempt to assassinate a prominent Ukrainian blogger, accusing a 45-year-old woman of carrying out the failed hit. The attempt to kill internet personality Serhii Sternenko, who once led the local chapter of a right-wing group but is now better known in Ukraine for crowdfunding donations for military drones, took place on Thursday. In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said the woman, whom it did not name, had fired several shots with a pistol, one of which hit Sternenko in the leg. The blogger said there was no danger to his life. The woman's lawyer said in court that she did not contest the facts of the case. Russia's FSB security service and its military intelligence agency did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the SBU's allegations. The SBU did not specify which of Russia's several security services it believed to have recruited the woman, but said that they had last year told her to move into Sternenko's apartment block in Kyiv, and to pick up a pistol from a dead drop. The SBU said the woman's handler told her on the morning of May 1 to kill Sternenko outside his apartment block. The agency posted screenshots of what it said were messages between the woman and the handler and a video from a security camera showing the assassination attempt. The accused's lawyer said the contact had told the woman that Sternenko was working for Russia's FSB. The woman told the court that the contact, whose gender was not disclosed, had introduced themselves online as an SBU agent, and that she had initially feared them. Subsequently she had fallen in love with them despite never seeing their photo, she said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Moment female assassin shoots top anti-Russian activist in failed hit before she is bundled to the ground in Ukraine
This is the shocking moment that a prominent anti-Russian activist was shot and wounded in Ukraine before his assailant was bundled to the ground and detained. Serhii Sternenko, a vocal Moscow critic and active fundraiser for Kyiv 's military, was subject to an assassination attempt involving a firearm, according to Ukraine's Security Service. Harrowing footage taken by CCTV shows a woman standing outside a residential building as the activist walks towards his car. She immediately opens fire on Sternenko, but is apprehended seconds later by one of his companions, while the other bundles him into the vehicle before they escape. She is then seen struggling as the man disarms and detains her. Later on, she is pictured against a wall with her hands behind her back and with her face covered. In a post on Telegram, Sternenko wrote after the attack: 'I was attacked. I was wounded. 'I am grateful to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) for their quick response. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to write anything anymore. They quite literally saved my life.' The SBU said: 'Operational and investigative actions are ongoing. 'We will inform you about the progress of the situation separately.' Earlier today they said the detainee was a 45-year-old woman from Odessa who lived in Kyiv. The SBU said she was 'recruited remotely by Russian special services late last year when she was looking for a "quick way to make money" on the internet.' After some initial trivial tasks monitoring and photographing cars, she was instructed to make a homemade explosive device as her 'contact' told her to move to Kyiv. From mid-April, her instructions were to follow Sternenko and track his movements. She was later given instructions on where to pick up a pistol and ammunition, before being told to kill the activist near his home yesterday. 'Thanks to previous observations, the attacker already knew the make of the car and the approximate time the volunteer would leave his home,' the SBU said. She was later given instructions on where to pick up a pistol and ammunition, before being told to kill the activist near his home on May 1 'As Serhiy Sternenko was leaving the house, a Russian agent fired several shots: one of the bullets hit him in the leg. The attacker was immediately detained on the spot by the Security Service of Ukraine. 'The searches revealed a phone with evidence of working in the Russian Federation, as well as components for an improvised explosive device that she had stored in another apartment. 'The SBU pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Comprehensive measures are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.' She now faces up to 15 years in prison. Sternenko is one of the most well-known Ukrainian activists on social media, with over two million YouTube subscribers and 840,000 Telegram followers. The lawyer has raised funds to help supply over 550 military units, and played a key role in popularising first-person view (FPV) drones. The Sternenko Community Foundation, set up in January, has raised enough to purchase over 176,000 drones. Sternenko has been the target of four assassination attempts due to his public activism, however. He was attacked several times during the 2014 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine which saw the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych, who was keen to develop closer ties with Russia instead of the EU. In 2018, he was attacked by a gang who beat him with a bat, before narrowly surviving a gunman attempt months later. In May that year, he killed one of two attackers who had come to assault him. He was charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a weapon, but the case was dropped in 2023.
