Rear Attacks – Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries and Air Base in Crimea and Leningrad
Rear Attacks – Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries and Air Base in Crimea and Leningrad
Russian milbloggers frequently complain that Ukraine seems to be able to strike at strategically important military and infrastructure facilities on the Crimean Peninsula with impunity.
Slightly confused by the title: TIL the oblast around St. Petersburg is still called Leningrad oblast even though the city is no longer called Leningrad.
Also that seems like a very far reach with a drone doesn't it? And pretty close to the Baltic countries and Finland. Unless of course it was launched by operatives behind enemy lines... Just seems a bit strange. Are there not valuable targets closer to Ukrainian territory?
Oil refineries are very large, very fragile, very flammable and very expensive. They are THE target to hit as it hits Russia right in the wallet.
And <=1000km is not at all difficult anymore with modern drone tech. This was already possible for a long time, but the tech has gotten so incredibly cheap and light.
Crimea IS Ukrainian territory and they want it back. Plus it's been known from the start of this war that making Crimea inaccessible to Russia would cut off major supply lines feeding this war. Why do you think they keep bombing the bridge?
Are there not valuable targets closer to Ukrainian territory?
This would allow the Russians to concentrate their air defense close to Ukraine. Striking targets far beyond the front forces the Russians not only to spread their air defense thin, but they also have to decide which sites they leave undefended. Pulling their air defense away from the front, it also means that Ukrainian F-16s and other planes will have more freedom to operate in the region.
And the strategic reason has already been mentioned: Striking targets like refineries makes the war more costly to the Russians, it deprives them of income, they possibly can't repair them because of sanctions, a.s.o. And obviously you want to bring the war to your enemy's territory because the enemy is already creating lots of destruction in your country.
Makes sense. St. Petersburg just seemed like a very long reach. More for technical reasons than anything. But kudos for pulling it of.
Ukraine presented a drone able to fly 1.000km last summer.
So no, it's not another country attacking russia, its the Ukrainians.
Oh no, I didn't mean to imply that another country is covertly bombing Russian targets. Just that flying drones in their vicinity might make them uncomfortable. But then again; they are bordering Russia. So it's probably not a real concern...
Are there not valuable targets closer to Ukrainian territory?
it might be better to attack russia directly than to just wait til they quit attacking?
No doubt about that. It just seemed like a very far reach. For technical reasons more than anything. I was just wondering if there aren't targets that are just as valuable, but easier to hit.