Ukrainian drones hit Smolensk: Major fire at aviation plant
On Tuesday, January 21, Ukrainians launched a drone attack on Smolensk, a city roughly 190 miles from the Ukraine border. The governor of the Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, confirmed the strike. Experts from the open-source intelligence community reported that a drone struck a workshop at the Smolensk Aviation Plant, causing a fire.
According to the Ukrainian service Militarny, several Ukrainian drones were reportedly aimed at Smolensk. The Russians claim some were shot down, but open-source intelligence, including analysts from the Dnipro OSINT account, suggests that some drones likely reached the workshop at the Smolensk Aviation Plant, where the fire occurred.
Ukrainian drone attack on Smolensk
This is not the first Ukrainian attack on this location. Militarny notes that a similar strike happened in October 2023. Ukrainian intelligence later revealed that the attack on the Smolensk Aviation Plant, part of the Russian state corporation "Tactical Missile Armament," disrupted the production of Raduga Kh-59 air-to-surface guided missiles, which Russians frequently use in Ukraine.
The specific drones used by Ukraine in this attack are currently unknown. However, it's known that Ukraine possesses several drone models capable of covering significant distances. This includes kamikaze drones "Bóbr," UJ-22 "Airborne" drones, and "Rubaka" drones.
The "Bóbr" drones are loitering munitions with a range of up to 621 miles. Available information indicates that their takeoff weight is no more than several tens of pounds, with speeds reaching 93-124 mph. Designed with a canard configuration, they can quickly change altitude to evade enemy air defenses.
UJ-22 "Airborne" drones are multi-task unmanned aerial systems. They achieve a maximum speed of 99 mph and can fly at altitudes up to 19,685 feet. Their controlled flight range is 62 miles, with autonomous flight reaching up to 497 miles. According to the manufacturer, UKRJET, the UJ-22 drone can operate continuously for 7 hours and performs well in extreme temperatures (from -40°F to 122°F). It can carry loads weighing up to 44 pounds.
Another Ukrainian drone with significant range is the "Rubaka." These drones can cover about 311 miles, carrying an explosive payload from roughly 4 to 33 pounds. A precise hit from a "Rubaka" kamikaze drone can significantly damage Russian artillery or cause human casualties, depending on the payload used.
