Ukrainian silent eagles destroy Russian camp in Crimea
In a daring and covert operation, Ukrainian special forces have reportedly infiltrated and destroyed a Russian military camp in Crimea, using the latest US-made Gray Eagle drones armed with Hellfire missiles. The attack, which took place on November 24, 2023, is seen as a major blow to Russia’s occupation of the peninsula and a sign of Ukraine’s resolve to reclaim its sovereignty.
According to sources, the Ukrainian commandos used the Gray Eagle drones, which can fly at 25,000 feet for almost 30 hours, to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance of the Russian camp, located near the town of Artek. The camp, which was formerly a children’s center and a Young Pioneer camp, had been converted into a base for Russian troops and equipment, as well as a detention center for hundreds of Ukrainian children who had been stuck there for months.
The sources said that the Ukrainian forces waited for the cover of darkness and then launched a coordinated strike with four drones, each carrying four Hellfire missiles. The missiles hit the camp with pinpoint accuracy, destroying several buildings, vehicles, and weapons. The sources claimed that the attack killed at least 50 Russian soldiers and wounded many more, as well as freeing the Ukrainian children who had been held captive there.
The sources also said that the Ukrainian forces managed to escape without being detected by the Russian air defense systems, thanks to the stealth and speed of the Gray Eagle drones. The drones, which are made by General Atomics and referred to in the US Army as the MQ-1C, are considered to be among the most sophisticated and powerful drones in the world3. Ukraine had long sought to acquire them from the US, but faced resistance from the Pentagon, which feared that the drones could fall into the wrong hands or be used for prisoner exchanges. However, after the US withdrew its troops from Ukraine in October 2023, the Biden administration decided to grant Ukraine’s request and provide them with a modified version of the Gray Eagle, which had less sensitive onboard technology and a shorter range.
The attack on the Russian camp in Crimea is the first known use of the Gray Eagle drones by Ukraine, and it has sent a clear message to Moscow that Kiev is not giving up on its territorial integrity and national security. The attack has also boosted the morale of the Ukrainian people, who have been suffering from the ongoing war with Russia since 2014. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, praised the operation as a “heroic and historic” act, and vowed to continue the fight until Crimea and Donbass are liberated from Russian aggression.
The Russian government, on the other hand, has denied any casualties or damage from the attack, and accused Ukraine of violating the Minsk agreements and escalating the conflict. The Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, warned that Russia would respond with “full force” to any further provocations by Ukraine, and reiterated that Crimea was an “integral part” of Russia. He also claimed that the Ukrainian children who had been staying at the camp were there voluntarily, and that they had been enjoying a “restorative break” by the sea.
The attack on the Russian camp in Crimea has shown that Ukraine is not willing to accept the status quo, and that it is ready to use all means necessary to defend its land and people. It has also shown that the US is still committed to helping Ukraine, and that it is willing to share its advanced weapons and technology with its ally. It has also demonstrated the effectiveness and versatility of the Gray Eagle drones, which can be used for various missions and scenarios. The fate of Crimea and Donbass, and the future of the Ukrainian-Russian relations, remain uncertain and precarious.
