The UK's Ministry of Defense revealed in an intelligence update on Tuesday (Apr. 16) that Ukraine recently targeted a drone factory in Russia's Tatarstan region.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 16 April 2024.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 16, 2024
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/EwBELWpRTX #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/gZAEVfsz5q
"The facility has been operating since July 2023 and is known to construct Iranian SHAHED style drones which Russia utilize to launch attacks against Ukraine," the report read.
The SHAHED is an Iranian-developed drone that, according to defense analysts, has been imported by Russia to complement its arsenal of cruise and ballistic missiles in striking Ukraine's big cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odesa.
"The attack once again demonstrates the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to reach deep into Russia, evade Russian air defense and locate any supporting functions of the war," the report added.
It was also revealed that Tatarstan's regional governor fears more frequent Ukrainian strikes.
The British assessment further suggested that the Russian Ministry of Defense has been "struggling to protect such facilities and are likely content to balance the risk to sites staffed by civilians in favor of maintaining their focus on the frontline where Ukrainian UAV tactics, and frequency of attacks, continue to cause problems for Russian forces."
