Ukrainian Drones Conduct Unprecedented Strike on Russian Urals, Impacting Key Military Sites
Ukrainian drones have executed a long-range strike reaching the Ural Mountains, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia. This operation, confirmed by Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, involved drones traveling over 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, bypassing Russian air defenses for more than 10 hours. The attack targeted key locations in Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, including the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and the Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators. In Yekaterinburg, a drone was diverted by Russian electronic warfare into a residential building, resulting in injuries to six people. The raid prompted 'drone danger' protocols, leading to flight restrictions in several regional airports. Russian military bloggers have criticized the apparent lack of air defense response during the drones' extensive flight path.