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In a bold and technically sophisticated strike, Ukrainian forces attempted again to target a strategically important military production facility in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, home to a key manufacturing site for Geran kamikaze drones. The attack, carried out in the early hours of June 15, introduced a novel tactic, a tandem drone strike involving a kamikaze unmanned aircraft towing a secondary glider-based munition.
According to Urkainian military sources, the assault involved a two-stage attack system, a modified A-22 light aircraft, converted into a kamikaze drone, served as the lead vehicle, towing a glider equipped with an additional warhead. Upon approaching the target, the glider detached and, potentially using its own propulsion or gliding capabilities, independently struck the target.
This configuration reportedly allowed Ukrainian forces to double the payload delivered to the target while complicating Russian air defense efforts. The tactic bears resemblance to a concept once explored by Russian engineers, but mainly dedicated to bypass enemy air defense, using a decoy drone to draw fire while a second, more lethal munition strikes. In this case, Ukraine appears to have reversed the application, using the lead drone as the primary strike vehicle while the glider acted as a secondary impactor.
Despite the innovative approach, the strike achieved only partial success. One of the drones crashed into a checkpoint near the plant, killing one worker and injuring 13 others, with one victim in critical condition. Emergency services quickly extinguished the resulting fire, but the primary target—the UAV production facility—remained unscathed. Rustam Minnikhanov, head of Tatarstan, confirmed the casualties and praised the rapid response of local emergency teams.
The attack underscores Ukraine’s increasing ability to penetrate deep into Russian territory and adapt its drone warfare tactics to evade air defenses. By utilizing low-cost, repurposed aircraft paired with glider munitions, Kyiv demonstrates an ability to maximize payload delivery while minimizing losses of expensive drones. The Alabuga attack, though not decisive, signals that Ukrainian forces are testing increasingly complex methods to disrupt Russian military production, setting the stage for more audacious strikes in the future.
