Ukrainian drones have been targeting the northern Russia’s Murmansk region, approximately 2,000 kilometers away from the Russia-Ukraine border. These attacks are the deepest strikes inside Russian territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia two and a half years ago. The first drone attack occurred on August 21, leading to flight restrictions at airports in Murmansk and Apatity. Witnesses reported spotting drones near a closed military settlement during this attack. A second attack occurred recently, prompting temporary flight restrictions at local airports.
There have been speculations regarding the origin of these drone attacks, with some pro-Kremlin media claiming that they could have flown from nearby Norway or Finland. However, experts do not believe that Nordic NATO members are being used as launching grounds for Ukrainian drone attacks. Israeli military expert David Sharp stated that Finnish authorities would not approve such an attack as it could result in direct conflict with Russia, which Finland aims to avoid. Past drone attacks in Tatarstan and St. Petersburg showed the capability of Ukrainian drones for long-distance flights, implying that such attacks on Murmansk are feasible.
Alexey Alshanskiy of the Conflict Intelligence Team supported Sharp’s assessment, stating that using NATO territory for drone attacks would escalate tensions with Russia, which NATO countries are trying to avoid. He mentioned that pro-Kremlin media have accused NATO member countries of involvement in drone attacks since the start of the war, but no evidence has been provided. Alshanskiy believes that Ukraine is capable of launching long-distance drone flights from its own territory, often utilizing light aircraft modified for unmanned control. The ability of Ukrainian drones to travel deep into Russian territory without detection by Russian air defense systems is a significant aspect of these attacks.
It is notable that Ukrainian drones have managed to travel long distances into Russian territory without being detected by the country’s air defense systems. Alshanskiy pointed out that Russian air defenses are not evenly distributed and are currently being redeployed to protect high-priority sites, potentially leaving gaps for drones to exploit. The deep strikes in the Murmansk region raise questions about how Ukrainian drones are able to travel such distances without being intercepted by Russian defenses. The frequent nature of these drone attacks and the ability to avoid detection highlight the sophisticated tactics being employed by Ukrainian forces.
The fact that Ukrainian drones are able to conduct deep strikes into Russian territory poses a challenge to Russian security apparatus. The apparent success of these attacks demonstrates the need for Russia to enhance its air defense capabilities and address any weaknesses in its current systems. The use of drones in conflicts, especially against well-equipped adversaries like Russia, underscores the evolving nature of warfare and the importance of staying ahead in terms of technological advancements. As these drone attacks continue to target Russian territory, it remains to be seen how Russian authorities will respond and adapt to this new form of threat.
