Why Ukraine is investing in superdrones

While waiting for air defences and long-range missiles, Ukraine has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in long-range drones capable of striking targets up to 3,000km away – and bringing Siberia within range. Ukrainian drones attacks have already disrupted much of Russia’s oil refining industry; some refineries have started to install metal nets to protect their key facilities from Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia’s energy ministry has spoken of plans to protect energy facilities with missile systems – but the head of Russia’s oil-producing Tatarstan Republic, Rustam Minnikhanov, said these weapons were being used for “other tasks”. It’s no mystery what those tasks are: Russian cruise and ballistic missiles recently destroyed the giant Trypilska power plant outside Kyiv, as well as dozens of residential buildings across Ukraine.