Abdujalil Abdurasulov
BBC News
BBC
Raibirds can fly non-stop over 1,000km to hit targets deep within Russia
In a secret location away from the prying eyes, Ukrainian engineers test a long-range drone called a raybird.
The machine, which looks like a winged mini-plane, is placed on the launchpad, stretches like a crossbow arrow before being shot into the air.
The Labard can not stop for more than 20 hours and cover more than 1,000km (620 miles). Perform missions to destroy targets at both the frontline and at depths within Russia.
Targets include oil refineries and fuel depots.
However, such missions should halt once Russia and Ukraine reach separate agreements with the US in a partial ceasefire.
After this week’s talks in Saudi Arabia, not only agreeing to a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, but the two countries have also pledged to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Voldymeierzelensky said Ukraine would implement these contracts immediately.
However, Olexi of Skyton, the company that develops Labard, doubts Moscow will stick to a ceasefire.
“[TheRussianspunchyouinthefaceandthenthenextdaytheyagreebutaskyoutotieyourhandsSothere’sstillachancethey’llcontinuetofight”explainsOleksiy[RussianspunchyouinthefacethenextdaytheymakeanagreementbutasktotiepyouurhandsSotheposibilitythattheywillcontinuefightingremains”explainsOleksiy[ロシア人はあなたを顔にpunchり、それから翌日、彼らは合意しますが、あなたの手を縛るように頼みます。だから彼らが戦い続ける可能性は残りです」とOleksiyは説明します。[RussianspunchyouinthefacethenthenextdaytheymakeanagreementbutasktotieupyourhandsSothepossibilitythattheywillcontinuefightingremains”explainsOleksiy
However, the deal will also bring relief to Russia.
It is estimated that this year alone, Ukraine has used drones and other weapons to launch more than 30 attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
They recently collided with some of the country’s largest oil facilities, including the UFA oil refineries, about 1,500 km (932 miles) from the frontline, like the Tuaps plant in the Krasnodar region.
Russia’s oil refining capabilities have dropped by about 10% as a result of drone attacks, according to Reuters.
And Moscow’s recent decision to extend the ban on oil exports shows they are in pain.
The Ukrainian arsenal for carrying out deep strikes is only growing. President Zelensky recently announced that Ukrainian engineers have designed a drone that ranges from 3,000 km (1,860 miles). In other words, it can be reached not only in Moscow, but even in Siberian places.
Before Zelensky, Zelensky says Ukraine has developed a drone to hit targets as far as Siberia
Kyiv also claims to have developed a turbojet-powered “missile duron.” They fly at much faster speeds, making it difficult to intercept.
Zelensky said Ukraine first tested home-made ballistic weapons and upgraded the cruise missile Neptune to attack naval targets. The missile was reportedly used last week to attack a Russian air force base in the southern city of Engels, but Ukrainian officials have not confirmed or denied the reports.
The energy ceasefire agreement certainly provides good news for Ukraine. Russia has relentlessly targeted power plants and stations across the country. At one point last year, Ukraine’s energy generation capabilities had dropped to a third of its pre-war level.
Last month, when temperatures fell below zero, Russian drones crashed into a thermoelectric power plant in Mikolife in southern Ukraine. A few days later, another massive air attack left over more than 250,000 Odesa residents without power and heat.
And recently, the number of attacks on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure has increased. Among the usual targets are underground gas storage facilities in western Ukraine and production facilities in the central and eastern parts of the country.
Igor Tkachenko/epa-efe/rex/shutterstock
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022
Artem Petrenko, executive director of the Ukrainian Gas Producers Association, said Moscow’s aim is to reduce gas production in Ukraine, the key to the country’s energy security.
At the end of March, one monitoring group said that gas storage facilities in Ukraine were only full of about 4%.
And if Russia continues to strike, filling these storage facilities will be extremely challenging and could lead to major issues next winter.
Back at the testing ground, a few laps later, Rabird opened his parachute and landed on the field.
Oleksiy is happy with the results. He says that eating a ceasefire is good, but they still can’t afford to pause their work and development of new weapons.
“Our enemies just want to rest and gather that strength and attack again,” he says. “We must be ready for that.”
