Russia shoots down suspected Ukrainian UAV

A large crater in the Kireyevsk area of ​​Tula region after Russia shot down a UAV that Moscow accused of being Ukrainian (Photo: Avia Pro).

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on March 26 that its air defenses had intercepted a drone attack. Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the incident that injured three people and damaged a residential area.

Ukraine has not commented on the information. Kiev has repeatedly denied Moscow's previous accusations that Ukrainian UAVs flew into Russian territory and caused damage to civilian and military infrastructure.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, yesterday's attack occurred in the town of Kireyevsk, Tula region, located 220km south of the capital Moscow.

"The Polye-21 electronic warfare system was activated against the Ukrainian drone, and its navigation system was disabled. The drone lost its orientation and crashed near the town of Kireyevsk in the Tula region," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The agency stated that the Russian air defense unit stationed in the Tula Region, including the Polye-21, S-300 and Pantsir systems, creates a reliable protective shield for this direction.

Russia accused Ukraine of using Tu-141 UAVs to carry out the attack. The Tu-141 was built in the Soviet era as an unarmed reconnaissance UAV. Ukraine modified them to turn them into long-range attack UAVs.

According to Russian media, the Tu-141 appeared to be carrying an explosive equivalent to 100kg. It caused a large crater 15m wide when it hit the ground. Bomb fragments were scattered over an area 500m in diameter. According to the source, the UAV may have taken off from the Kharkov region, flying 450km, including 400km in Russian territory before being intercepted.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-ban-roi-uav-nghi-cua-ukraine-20230327071411513.htm