Russia, Ukraine shoot down each other's drones over the Black Sea

According to Reuters , Russia and Ukraine announced that they shot down each other's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Black Sea on April 1. The incident shows that both sides seem to be increasingly focusing on the development and use of UAVs in their more than two-year conflict.

The Russian Defense Ministry wrote on the Telegram social media platform that its air defense units had intercepted six Ukrainian UAVs "attempting to carry out a terrorist attack."

The governor of Russia's Belgorod border region, Vyachelsav Gladkov, reported that defense units shot down 19 air targets and that Ukrainian shelling of the area had injured 10 people.

Russia's Forpost UAV is estimated to be worth up to $8 million. (Photo: Zvezda)

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Illya Yevlash told state television that Ukrainian forces had shot down a Russian Forpost UAV, which he described as one of the most sophisticated and expensive aircraft in Moscow's arsenal.

"We don't often shoot down such a target, but we did it. It was an expensive Forpost UAV," said Mr. Yevlash, estimating its value at up to $8 million.

Military publications describe the Forpost as a version of the Russian reconnaissance UAV used by Israel for decades and capable of conducting surveillance at an altitude of 5 km continuously for 16 hours.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraine's southern military group, said Russia was using Forpost UAVs more frequently after Ukrainian air defense units successfully shot down at least two A-50 early warning aircraft.

"Over the past 24 hours, we have observed more than 200 reconnaissance drones operating in our area of responsibility, from Odesa to Zaporizhzhia," Ms. Humeniuk told Ukrainian state television. "Today there are a little less. They obviously need to change after losing the A-50s."

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again stressed the importance of promoting domestic drone production, after announcing the target of producing one million units by 2024.

“War requires our defense industrial complex to produce as much as possible and as quickly as needed to win,” Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

"It is clear that UAVs in this war will be one of the decisive factors for victory and it must be Ukrainian, Ukrainian drones, Ukrainian victory," Mr. Zelensky emphasized. "We need more and more effective UAVs."

Hoa Vu (Source: Reuters)

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