The drone deployed by Ukraine for striking Russian oil plants.
Ukraine has been regularly attacking Russian refineries and oil depots using a homemade drone named "Ljutyj." The development of this drone had a rocky start, with a major malfunction during a test run.
During the first practical test a year ago, the drone, which was expected to crash on Snake Island in the Black Sea, malfunctioned and started flying back towards its starting point in Odessa. The problem was that the built-in autopilot had failed to execute the planned crash. The drone pilots tried to regain control, which they did about 30 kilometers from Odessa.
The failure caused major doubts among top military officials about the project. One member of the defense committee in the Ukrainian parliament told Ukrajinska Pravda, "Nobody really believed in this drone - too big, visible on all radars." But the unnamed developers refused to give up.
After a few weeks, Ukraine was able to provide evidence of its long-range capabilities by launching an attack on an oil depot near the Russian city of Sochi. The drone had traveled more than 1000 kilometers, striking a target beyond what many thought possible.
The idea of a Ukrainian long-range drone had been around since at least the fall of 2022, when the Russians hit deep into Ukraine's energy infrastructure. However, it was unclear how the project could be implemented. Some parts were purchased, while others were developed in-house. For the first production series, the drone was ready by the end of August 2023.
Shortly after, two Russian bases in occupied Crimea were targeted in a drone attack. A blurred image of the drone was published by Ukrainian special forces, but it's the last public photo available to date. September saw several successful attacks on the area around Sochi, with another attack on an oil depot in St. Petersburg following closely behind, setting a new standard in the war.
aptly named "Lyutyy," which translates to both "February" and "the angry one," became a significant weapon against Russian oil refineries. "Lyutyy" is responsible for about 80% of these attacks. It can fly more than 1000 kilometers and is currently operated by various Ukrainian structures, including special forces and the HUR military intelligence service. Rumor has it that there's an even more advanced drone in development called "Ninja," which was used to attack a Gazprom refinery in Bashkortostan on May 9. "Ninja" traveled a record-breaking 1500 kilometers to complete its mission.
Despite some early setbacks, "Lyutyy" has proven its worth as a powerful weapon in the ongoing conflict. With its combination of affordability, efficiency, range, and accuracy, it outclasses all competitors.
To paraphrase, Ukraine has utilized its homemade drone "Ljutyj" in attacks against deep Russian oil refineries. The creation of "Ljutyj" faced obstacles at first, but its developers persevered, resulting in a weapon that caused significant damage to Russian infrastructure. "Ljutyj" has since been responsible for about 80% of attacks on Russian refineries. It's named after the month of its conception and the anger toward the Russian invasion that started this war. This drone is unique in its capabilities, and "Ninja," a more advanced version, has been used to attack a Gazprom refinery in Bashkortostan. "Ninja" holds the record for the longest range covered during an attack so far at 1500 kilometers, surpassing "Ljutyj."
The Ukrainian drone has demonstrated unprecedented skill in attacking Russian infrastructure, enabling a combination of price, quality, range, and accuracy unmatched by other options. Whether a result of perseverance, accuracy, or an emotional connection, "Ljutyj" leaves an imprint on Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Paraphrased: A homemade drone developed by Ukraine, codenamed "Ljutyj," has been employed extensively in attacks on deep Russian oil refineries. Although its beginnings were fraught with failure, as seen in the first test run where it malfunctioned and returned to base, the drone's engineers refused to give up. The name "Ljutyj," which means both "February" and "angry one," symbolizes the year of its creation and Ukraine's anger at the Russian invasion. By September, "Ljutyj" had proven its mettle through several successful attacks on the Sochi area and another on an oil depot in St. Petersburg.
"Ljutyj" accounts for about 80 percent of Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries, with "Ninja," a more advanced version, establishing a new record of 1500 kilometers covered during an attack in Bashkortostan. The cost-effectiveness of "Ljutyj," alongside its striking accuracy, range, and overall performance, has cemented its status as the superior option among other long-range drones. Adversity fueled its creation and led to its immense success, turning "Ljutyj" into a formidable opponent in the conflict.
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The recent string of air raids on Russian infrastructure by Ukraine has caused significant damage, with the drone attack on an oil depot near Sochi being a notable example. The autonomous drone 'Ljutyj,' responsible for the majority of these attacks, was developed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has proven to be a powerful weapon against Russian oil refineries in Crimea.
Source: www.ntv.de
