Ukraine increasing drone attacks on Russia

 ISW:

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) accused Ukraine of attempting to attack two Black Sea Fleet patrol boats with unmanned semi-submersibles on August 1. The Russian MoD initially claimed that Ukraine launched three unmanned boats at the “Sergey Kotov” and “Vasily Bykov” Project 22160 large patrol ships in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, about 340km southwest of Sevastopol.[1] The Russian MoD later clarified that the patrol ships were escorting Russian civilian transport ships en route to the Bosphorus Strait via the Black Sea and claimed that the patrol ships detected and destroyed all three semi-submersibles.[2] Russian authorities may be amplifying claims of Ukrainian attacks to frame Ukraine as irresponsibly threatening civilian ships in the Black Sea, thereby setting conditions to further escalate naval activity and consolidate control in the Black Sea, though there is no indication that Ukrainian attacks on Russian military targets have threatened civilian vessels.[3] Geolocated images posted on July 31 show the installation of anti-naval drone barriers in Sevastopol Bay, likely as part of the overall Russian effort to increase naval and defensive posturing in the Black Sea.[4]

Ukrainian actors likely conducted another drone strike on Moscow City in the early hours of August 1. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defense downed several drones flying towards Moscow, and geolocated footage shows that one drone struck the 21st floor of the IQ-Kvartal Tower in central Moscow City.[5] Russian media reported that the target of the strike was the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, located on the IQ-Kvartal Tower’s 21st floor.[6] Russian sources claimed that drones previously struck the IQ-Kvartal Tower on the night of July 29 to 30.[7] Social media footage from August 1 additionally shows a drone flying over Moscow suburbs in the Odintsovo district.[8] Several sources suggested that the drones were Ukrainian-made.[9] One Russian commentator accused Sobyanin of neglecting to secure Moscow against such continued drone attacks.[10] Russian authorities will likely struggle to balance the need to quell domestic concern over continuing drone attacks deep within the Russian rear with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued refusal to fully mobilize Russian society for the war and its corresponding consequences.
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Drones have become the weapon of choice for Ukraine and to some extent Russia.  They have the advantage of reign both relatively inexpensive and do not put pilots at risk of being killed or captured.  The Ukraine naval drones are a threat to Russian ships especially in the Black Sea.  The aerial drones are able to make the long journey into Russian air space and attack Moscow.  The aerial drones have mainly been used to attack buildings associated with the Russian government and defense establishment.  Russia has so far not developed a significant defense to the drone attack.  While this could be because of Putin's refusal to mobilize resources to deal with the drones.  It could also be because the drones are able to evade Russian radar to some extent.

See, also:

Russian military can’t handle repeated drone attacks - air force spokesman

Russian troops don't know how to shoot down drones like those involved in the recent attack on Moscow and are helpless to deal with them, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on August 1.

"Russian soldiers still can't cope with those drones which somehow reach them," Ihnat said.
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And:

 Ukraine is using a new exploding drone to target Russia, say experts. But the 'Beaver' may have one major weakness.

Ukraine is using a new, long-range drone, known as the "Beaver", to bring the war deep into Russia's borders, according to experts.

Open-source intelligence experts have posted footage of recent drone attacks in Moscow, and said the aircraft appeared to be Ukrainian Beaver drones.

The drones have an unusual shape, with an engine at the back end and a second pair of smaller wings near the front, according to footage and images posted online by Ukrainian outlet Euromaidan Press.

This allows them to make abrupt changes in flight altitude and evade air defenses.

They carry an explosive payload, and have a range of up to 620 miles, meaning attacks on Russia can be launched from within Ukraine's borders.
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... it is unclear whether Beaver drones are as adept at evading navigation-jamming technology as Shahed drones, and might be vulnerable to the electronic defense systems set up in the Russian capital.

He pointed to reports saying that two drones targeting Moscow Sunday had hit an office high rise, which is not a target that's part of Ukrainian military doctrine.

He said this indicated they had likely been diverted from their intended targets by Russian defenses.
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And:

 Russia continues to import Western microchips for its missile production

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According to the article, the X-101 cruise missile, manufactured by Raduga Design Bureau, is one of Russia's most advanced missiles, uses an Intel processor, Xilinx and Texas Instruments chips, and a transceiver from Analog Devices Inc.

Read also: Austrian engines, South Korean and Malaysian microchips, US parts found in Iranian Mohajer-6 drones

The report states that these components continue to flow into Russia without obstruction. In the last six months, Russian authorities have imported Analog Devices Inc. components valued over $98 million, Xilinx components worth more than $75 million, Microchip Technology components over $42 million, and Texas Instruments components of at least $38 million, according to customs office data.

Additionally, products from Infineon, Germany's largest semiconductor manufacturer, worth over $28 million, Marvell over $11 million, Cypress Semiconductor over $3.8 million, and Atmel over $2.7 million have also been imported into Russia.
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Furthermore, products from U.S. companies Intel and AMD, including microprocessors, have been imported into Russia for a sum exceeding $169 million and $35 million, respectively. Notably, the vast majority of these Western electronics reach Russia via China and Hong Kong. For instance, the top three resellers of Intel components include Time Art International Limited (almost $40 million), Union Tech Inc. Limited ($17 million), and Dexp International Limited ($15 million), all based in Hong Kong.
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And:

 Ukrainian tanks are being wiped out by Russian minefields. The country needs its own 'Manhattan Project' to figure out how to clear them, a retired general told the NYT.

And:

Military intelligence: Crimean residents conduct 'systematic' sabotage against Russian bases

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Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014, and the Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists who remained on the peninsula have faced regular persecution by occupation authorities.

There have been frequent reports of sabotages and attacks on the occupied peninsula in recent weeks. The HUR reported on the destruction of ammunition warehouses on the peninsula on July 28 but did not confirm its involvement.
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