Andrey Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma defense committee, said the drone attack on Sterlitamak in Bashkortostan showed the need to strengthen Russian counterintelligence.

In his view, Ukrainian sleeper cells are operating inside Russia and are involved in launching drones at Russian targets. He also said the UAVs may have been brought into the country in parts on cargo trucks.

Kolesnik, as quoted by Gazeta. Ru, argued that such incidents happen in the context of the special military operation and described Ukraine as a terrorist state that recognizes no boundaries. He added that those behind such underground cells should be tracked down and eliminated.

A day earlier, Bashkortostan head Radiy Khabirov said the region had come under attack by Ukrainian drones. According to him, air defense systems shot down several UAVs over an industrial area in Sterlitamak, although some of the wreckage fell on the grounds of one of the local enterprises.

Military Telegram channels reported that four Ukrainian Lyutyy drones may have been used in the strike. Those UAVs are said to be capable of flying more than 1,000 kilometers.