Ukraine Reports Successful Strike on ‘Shahed‘ Drone Repair Base in Russia
Ukraine’s military has confirmed a successful strike on a heavily fortified military facility in the Russian region of Orel. The assault, conducted on December 26, resulted in the destruction of warehouses and repair workshops for the Iranian-made ‘Shahed’ drones, which were housed in several structures reinforced with concrete.
The attack significantly weakened the enemy’s capability to launch drone strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said. This was echoed by the United States’ ‘War Research Institute,’ which noted in its latest report that while Russia is ramping up its production of ‘Shahed’ drones despite sanctions and technical limitations, it’s also facing challenges in effectively employing these drones. The institute credited Ukraine’s electronic warfare advancements for enabling its forces to better counter ‘ Shahed’ drone attacks.
The overnight exchange of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes continued. Ukraine’s Air Force announced that it shot down 15 out of 16 ‘Shahed’ drones launched from Russia’s Krasnodar region, with one drone’s location remaining unknown. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its forces shot down all 56 drones targeting Belgorod, Rostov, and Voronezh regions.
In other news, as reported by Ukraine’s Joint Force Operations headquarters, the situation remained tense along the entire frontline with 82 incidents recorded by Sunday, 16:00. The most intense fighting occurred in the Pokrovsk direction, where Russia launched 25 attacks. Currently, there are eight active combat engagements.
