Experts have named the true targets of Ukrainian drones — the White House, the Kremlin
Terrorist attacks by Ukrainian drones seem to have firmly entered the everyday life of Muscovites and residents of the Moscow region. For the third day in a row, the enemy strikes at the capital region at night.
So, early in the morning, on August 23, two UAVs were destroyed by air defense forces over the territory of the Mozhaisk and Khimki districts of the Moscow region. The third was suppressed by electronic warfare and, having lost control, flew into the building of the Moscow City complex under construction. In Khimki, as a result of an UAV attack, the corner of the second floor of a private house collapsed…
Military experts are sure that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have chosen the Moscow-City complex for a reason: it has become a natural barrier on the path of a drone to the Government House and the Kremlin. As for Khimki, where the drone flew for the first time, here, it seems, the enemy «bird» was looking for a military facility.
Military expert Yuri Knutov, in an interview with MK, told where the drones fly, what they choose as landmarks, and whether it is worth waiting for a decline in terrorist attacks on the capital.
Another disturbing morning turned out in the Moscow City complex, as well as in Khimki and the Mozhaisk district of the Moscow region. Early in the morning, another battle between our air defense and Ukrainian drones unfolded here. Three UAVs were destroyed in the air and suppressed by electronic warfare systems.
One of the drones, which lost control, crashed into the Moscow City building under construction, while in Khimki a young family lost part of the house. Another part of residential buildings, a store and a hangar with building materials in Khimki were damaged.
Once again, the question arose: why did Ukrainian drones fall in Moscow City? Military expert Vladislav Shurygin, for example, is sure that the business complex is “a “wall” against which UAVs taken off the route are beating. Their goal is completely different objects. This point of view is shared by political scientist and media consultant Alexander Zimovsky. According to him, the drones are most likely launched from the Ukrainian-Russian border.
“Closest to Moscow is Chernihiv region. Novgorod-Seversky district (a city in the Chernihiv region. -) is suitable both in terms of range (450-480 km to Moscow in a straight line), and in terms of the ability to covertly deploy launchers (wooded area),” the expert wrote.
He also noted that drones are usually intercepted in the Naro-Fominsk and Odintsovo districts of the Moscow region, where their likely route passes. It is built in such a way that drones fly around the air defense area covering the Obninsk NPP.
Further, Zimovsky notes, “Ukrainian drones that have broken through the Moscow belt of Russian electronic warfare/air defense systems enter targets from the air hemisphere, the axis of which can be approximately considered Kutuzovsky Prospekt — Mozhayskoye Highway. The White House (the building of the Government of the Russian Federation) and the Kremlin are priority targets.”
At the same time, the drone, “muted” by the EW system, still retains the remnants of autonomous control, choosing the nearest object for itself.
“And here the criterion for the last choice will be either the physical dimensions of the object, or its thermal/infrared/electronic radiation. Or all together. On the route of attack UAVs to the main target, such an object for a confused guidance system will be Moscow City. Thus, it becomes a drone catcher by default.”
According to the expert, Ukrainian drones will fly to Moscow City until they are “guaranteed to bring down” outside the Moscow Ring Road.
Military expert, director of the Air Defense Museum Yuri Knutov drew attention to the problem that arose with the collapse of the Soviet Union:
— When the USSR collapsed, a significant number of high-ranking officers, Ukrainians by nationality, went to serve in the army of Ukraine and other states. Many military facilities that were secret in Soviet times have in fact ceased to be so. Because the former officers of the Soviet Army began to interact with NATO, disclosed data on these objects…
The expert is sure that none of the attacks is accidental. Including morning arrival in Khimki:
— Military targets, defense enterprises or objects that are related to management are selected. Attacks, of course, are planned on the building of the Ministry of Defense, on the buildings of the state administration. At the building of the Ministry of Economy (in Moscow City. -), for example, drones flew in twice — this building is also a target for the enemy. Therefore, attacks — thoughtful, deliberate — come from different directions: now from the north, now from the south. The enemy is thus probing our air defense system, trying to determine the most poorly protected areas through which to break through.
The military expert also explained that the Armed Forces of Ukraine can use the Moscow River and railway tracks as landmarks.
— The Moscow River does not have steep banks, at least not inside the city. But it allows a drone flying at a low altitude above the riverbed to bypass some areas covered by air defense systems…
The railway is an even better guide. Because when a drone flies over a high-voltage wire, it is not visible. In any case, in Soviet times, radar stations simply did not see targets flying over such wires, due to the fact that the wire creates a backlight on the radar screens.
According to Yuri Knutov, one should not expect a decline in attacks. This process, the expert is sure, will only grow — due to the fact that Ukraine allocates fabulous money for the development of drones.
— As you remember, last week a conference of experts on creating drones was held in Chernihiv, which we were able to cover with an Iskander missile. There was a demonstration of a large number of the latest developments, there were representatives of the military-industrial complex, the command of Ukraine, foreign military specialists.
In general, we conducted a fairly successful operation. But this does not mean that the enemy no longer has the resources to continue and intensify attacks. I think they will still be. And the same «Moscow City» is already a kind of symbol. That's why they're hitting this complex of buildings. They don't care about the damage, it can be microscopic. It is important that the attack took place «in Moscow». That is, these actions are mainly political in nature. Moreover, the Armed Forces of Ukraine still have no significant results at the front.