Ukraine combat drones attack and set ablaze Russian oil depot in Luhansk
In a daring strike, Ukrainian combat drones attacked and set fire to a Russian oil depot in the city of Luhansk, which is under the control of Russian-backed separatists. The attack, which took place on December 3, 2023, was captured on video and shared on social media by local residents and journalists.
The footage shows a large fire and thick smoke rising from the oil depot, which is located near a residential area. The sound of explosions and gunfire can also be heard in the background. According to some reports, the fire was caused by a Ukrainian drone that dropped a bomb on one of the fuel tanks, triggering a chain reaction. Other reports suggest that the drone was a kamikaze model that crashed into the target, detonating its warhead.
The Ukrainian military has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is widely believed that it was carried out by one of the many drone units that have been deployed to the front line of the war with Russia. Ukraine has been rapidly expanding its “Army of Drones” in recent years, as it faces a superior and better-equipped adversary. Ukraine has developed and acquired various types of drones, ranging from small surveillance models to larger combat ones, with the help of domestic and foreign sources.
One of the most innovative and effective drones in the Ukrainian arsenal is the Vidsyich, which means “repel” in Ukrainian. The Vidsyich is a stealthy and fast drone that can fly up to 40 kilometers and carry a warhead of two to three kilograms. It is designed to attack high-value targets, such as Russian tanks, artillery, and air defense systems. The Vidsyich is manufactured by a Ukrainian company called Borovyk, which is one of dozens of drone developers that have emerged in the country since the start of the conflict.
The attack on the oil depot in Luhansk is not the first time that Ukrainian drones have struck deep into enemy territory. In November, Ukraine released drone video purporting to show massive losses of Russian weapons in a series of raids on military bases and depots in Crimea and the Donbas region. The video showed dozens of destroyed or damaged tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and ammunition. Ukraine claimed that the attacks were a response to Russia’s invasion of its territory in February 2023, which sparked a new and deadly phase of the war.
The use of drones has given Ukraine a significant advantage in the asymmetric warfare with Russia, as it allows it to inflict damage and disrupt the enemy’s operations without risking its own soldiers and aircraft. However, Russia has also been using drones against Ukraine, both for reconnaissance and attack purposes. Russia has deployed sophisticated electronic warfare systems to jam and shoot down Ukrainian drones, as well as to launch its own drone strikes. In October, Russia launched the biggest drone attack since the start of the war, targeting Ukrainian positions and infrastructure with hundreds of drones.
The drone war between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating, as both sides continue to develop and deploy new and more lethal models. The drones have become a vital and versatile weapon in the modern battlefield, capable of performing a variety of missions and changing the course of the conflict. As the war enters its tenth year, the drones are likely to play an even bigger role in the future.
