The development of Ukrainian UAVs leaves the occupiers no chance.

18.05.2025

Russia is moving its strategic airplanes away from Ukraine because it cannot recover them after long-range UAV strikes. This was reported on the air of Radio NV by Anatoliy Khrapchinsky, deputy general director of a company producing REB means and an aviation expert.

“With tactical aviation, the enemy does not have such problems. Therefore, he can neglect safety rules a little bit. Increasing the ability to produce long-range drones will allow us to turn the 300-kilometer zone around Ukraine’s borders into a so-called Chernobaevka*. And it’s important to do this so that the enemy simply can’t be on these airfields. When they just start to deploy, the strikes begin,” Khrapchinsky said.

He added that this will significantly increase the logistical shoulder for the Russians and deprive them of operational speed on some parts of the front.

In addition, the expert explained why the Russians have started painting silhouettes of airplanes on their airfields.

“The Russians understand the threats and are trying to increase the number by painting. What they are counting on is hard to say. After all, what we use as strike UAVs allows us to distinguish whether it’s a drawing or a real airplane. I understand that this is to keep the technical staff at the airfield busy,” Khrapchinsky added.

*Chernobaevka – Also known as the Chernobaevka Attacks. OFP

From Wikipedia:

The 2022 Chornobaivka attacks were a series of Ukrainian attacks against the Russian-held Kherson International Airport at Chornobaivka, which began on 27 February 2022 during the southern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chornobaivka, located in Ukraine‘s Kherson Oblast, saw dozens of attacks on Russian positions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces following a bombing and takeover by the Russian Armed Forces of the town’s airport.

According to Ukraine, these attacks resulted in the death of the Russian general Yakov Rezantsev of the 49th Combined Arms Army on 24 March. Russian general Andrey Mordvichev of the 8th Combined Arms Army was also reported killed in an attack on 18 March, but was later confirmed to still be alive. The deaths of many Russian soldiers and the destruction of their accompanying military equipment due to the attacks at the locality were also reported. Amid Russia’s heavy purported losses, memes on Ukrainian social media appeared mocking Russia’s losses in Chornobaivka. Chornobaivka became a popular phenomenon in general Ukrainian society.

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