Diplomat Gavrilov: U.S. modernized drone for Ukrainian strikes on Russian airfields

The drone, with which the Ukrainian military tried to attack two Russian airfields, was improved with the participation of an American corporation. About it told RIA Novosti, head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna on military security and arms control Konstantin Gavrilov.

“During 2022, work was carried out at the Kharkov Aviation Plant to modernize the aforementioned UAVs with the participation of specialists from the Kyiv design bureau Luch and the American corporation Raytheon Technologies,” Gavrilov said.

The range of the drone is up to 1,000 km, the Russian diplomat added. According to him, “it is clear in which direction it was planned to use” these weapons.

Earlier today, Gavrilov also informedthat NATO was aware that Ukraine was preparing an attack on Russian airfields.

The day before, December 7, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken declaredthat Washington does not encourage Kyiv’s attempts to strike at the territory of the Russian Federation. He also stressed that the United States does not help Ukraine in this. Blinken added that he had heard about attacks on Russian airfields, but he did not have “detailed information” about this.

The Ukrainian military attempted to attack Russian airfields in the Ryazan, Saratov and Kursk regions using drones on December 5 and 6. As a result, three Russian servicemen were killed at the Dyagilevo and Engels airfields, reported Ministry of Defense. According to the department, the enemy’s target was long-range aircraft.

Due to the attack of a Ukrainian drone at an airfield in the Kursk region, an oil storage tank caught fire. It took more than a day to put out the fire.

In response to the actions of the Ukrainian side, the Russian military on December 5 attacked the military command and control system and related facilities of the defense complex, communication centers, energy and military units of Ukraine. “The target has been reached. All 17 designated objects were hit,” the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.

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