Ukraine's game-changer: AI-powered drones for high-precision strikes
Ukraine is attacking Russia with long-range drones, and some of them even have artificial intelligence to help them navigate and avoid obstacles, a source close to Ukraine's drone program told CNN on April 2.
This strategic move by Ukraine is significantly impacting Russia's oil and gas sectors, crucial components of Moscow's war chest, despite facing Western sanctions and pricing restrictions.
"Accuracy under jamming is enabled through the use of artificial intelligence,"the source said. "Each aircraft has a terminal computer with satellite and terrain data."
Noah Sylvia, a specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, explained the cutting-edge 'machine vision' technology at play. "This form of AI involves a chip-equipped model trained to recognize geographical features and targets, enhancing the drone's navigation and targeting capabilities."
Once in action, these drones operate autonomously, relying on their built-in technology rather than external communications, offering a significant advantage in stealth and efficiency. "They need no satellite links; they're entirely self-reliant," Sylvia added, underscoring the advanced autonomy of these AI-powered UAVs.
Attacks on Russian refineries
Ukraine’s SBU security service has successfully attacked at least 12 oil refineries in Russia recently, Reuters reported on March 17, citing a source in the service.
This figure does not include Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) operations, which also carries out drone strikes on Russian refineries.
Russia has lost about 600,000 barrels of daily refining capacity because of Ukrainian drone strikes, Gunvor Group Ltd. CEO Torbjörn Törnqvist said.Ukrainian intelligence and the SBU confirmed involvement in some of these attacks in a comment to NV.
Read also: Drones attack an oil refinery in Russia’s Tatarstan — video
Drones attacked Russia’s Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Oryol oblasts overnight on March 11-12, as well as Moscow. Explosions were heard near an oil depot in Oryol, causing a fire. A Lukoil oil depot in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was also set ablaze.
Drones attacked Russia’s Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblasts overnight on March 12-13, as well as an oil refinery in Ryazan, where a serious fire broke out.
A fire broke out at two refineries in Russia’s Samara Oblast overnight on March 15-16, which Russian media claimed to have been the result of a drone attack. Another fire was reported following a drone attak on a plant in Russia’s Slaviansk-na-Kubani, Krasnodar Krai on March 16-17.
A drone attacked an oil refinery in Saratov, Russia, on March 23, the Russian Telegram channel Astra claimed. The Kuibyshev plant in Samara caught fire following UAV attack the same day.
A "call" from the United States not to attack Russian refineries
The Financial Times published an article on March 22 in which three sources stated that the United States had allegedly called on Ukraine to stop attacking Russia's energy infrastructure, as this could provoke a rise in world oil prices and retaliatory measures by the Russian Federation.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna noted that the Ukrainian side had already responded to such calls "by achieving its goals and very successful operations" conducted in Russia. Statements by other officials also indicate that Russian oil refineries are absolutely legitimate targets from a military point of view, the official added.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, claims that Washington did not demand that Ukraine stop attacking Russia's oil infrastructure. Then-National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov stated that Ukraine would not ask for advice on the destruction of legitimate military targets in Russia.The Biden administration, when asked to comment on the FT's information, said it "does not encourage or support Ukraine taking strikes outside its own territory."
Read also:
Attacks on Russian refineries may affect global oil supply — report
Deputy PM Stefanishyna comments on US calls to cease strikes on Russian refineries
U.S. does not support Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, but is there a request to stop?
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