Ukraine drone hit Russian aircraft factory

 The Telegraph:

A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian aircraft factory more than 200 miles behind enemy lines.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed responsibility for the explosion at the Smolensk Aviation Factory. Footage of the blast showed plumes of black smoke billowing up from the plant, which also produces Kh-59 cruise missiles.

Baza, a Russian Telegram channel with links to the military, said two drones were downed over the factory, one of which crashed into the roof and exploded. It said there were no casualties. This is the second time Ukraine has sent drones to attack the factory – a previous raid in October caused widespread damage to production lines.

The attack appears to have been part of a wave of 35 drones Ukraine launched over the weekend in retaliation to a dawn attack by 70 Russian Shahed drones on Saturday.

It comes at a critical time in the war, with front lines frozen and major question marks about military support and funding for Ukraine from the West.

On Tuesday NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said he was “confident” the United States would keep up weapons deliveries, despite a political blockage in Washington. The US has provided over $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and pledged to back Kyiv for as long as necessary. But opposition from hardline Republicans has thrown into question the future of this assistance.
...

Both sides are using drones against each other, but the Ukrainian drones appear to be more effective than the Iranian-designed drones used by Russia. This war has seen more combat drones than any other in recent times.  The US used spy drones in the past.  The use of drones is less expensive than using jet aircraft which would also expose the pilots to capture or death.

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