The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on 17/7 that “reconnaissance units discovered a control station and launch site for Ukrainian Liutyi long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near the settlement of Gamalievka in Sumy Oblast. An Iskander-M ballistic missile hit the control station camouflaged in the forest, while a Geran-2 suicide drone destroyed the launch site.”
The released video shows the Iskander-M ballistic missile descending into a forest, detonating its warhead in the air and causing large fires. Russian UAV footage also captures a structure in an open field, surrounded by tire tracks, before a Geran-2 drone strikes it, resulting in complete destruction.
Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the report.
In a separate statement on the same day, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that Russia attacked the country with 64 Geran-2 drones and decoy aircraft but did not mention any missile strikes. “The main target of the attack was Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Ukrainian air defense units shot down 36 suicide drones, while electronic countermeasures disoriented five more. Twenty-two drones hit five locations,” the command stated.
The AN-196 Liutyi, with a maximum range of 2,000 km and a 50-75 kg warhead, was designed in late 2022 and has been used by Ukraine to attack strategic targets deep within Russian territory.
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Location of the settlement of Gamalievka, Sumy Oblast. Graphics: RYV |
Russia has recently increased attacks on Ukraine using a combination of missiles and large numbers of UAVs. The drone swarms often serve to draw out Ukrainian air defenses and deplete their ammunition, paving the way for missile strikes, while also actively hunting and attacking Ukrainian military positions.
Nguyen Tien (Theo Zvezda, RIA Novosti, AP)
