The attack on an industrial site in the Russian republic of Tatarstan earlier this week is believed to have been carried out by a modified Aeroprakt light aircraft. A-22, Ukrainian production, several experts told Reuters, BTA reported.
Until now, no Ukrainian drone has managed to attack an object located so deep in Russian territory. Moscow said the aircraft struck dormitories at an industrial site and that 13 people were injured.
According to a Ukrainian intelligence source, the attack was against a plant for the production of long-range Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. Thousands of the drones produced there have been used in attacks against Ukraine in the course of the war, which is now in its 25th month. Russian media reported that the dormitory had been hit by "two drones". The building is located in the Russian special economic zone "Alabuga", more than 1,200 km from the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. It is not clear what the second drone was.
A video circulating on social media shows a winged aerial vehicle flying towards the site before exploding on impact. Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video by nearby buildings, rooftops, windows, road surfaces and greenery that match the satellite and file images, but was unable to confirm the date of the video.
The defense intelligence company "Janes" (Janes) told Reuters that, based on the video, it confirmed that the attack used an A-22l aircraft - a class of two-seater ultralight aircraft developed and manufactured by the company "Aeroprakt" in Ukraine.
According to the founder and chief designer of "Aeroprakt" Yuri Yakovlev said the silhouette of the drone resembles an A-22, but that his company is not involved in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, as it has no knowledge of the production of navigation or control systems for drones. According to him, it is possible that someone modified one of the nearly 1,600 aircraft produced by "Aeroprakt" so that the airplane flies without a crew. Before the war, 100 "Aeroprakt" planes were sold in Russia. A-22.
A few weeks ago, a senior Ukrainian government official told Reuters that his country hoped to produce thousands of long-range drones this year. Ukraine does not have the ability to quickly produce long-range missiles, and its access to those of its Western allies is also limited. Because of Kiev focused on the development of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. In recent months, the Ukrainian military has stepped up its offensive deep into internationally recognized Russian territory, focusing mainly on oil facilities in an attempt to reduce Russia's ability to raise revenue to finance its war.