FP-1 Drone Attack on Ekaterinburg May Have Originated in Kharkov
An FP-1 drone may have been launched from Kharkov region toward Ekaterinburg, covering about 1,800 km and damaging a residential building.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine may have launched an FP-1 drone toward Ekaterinburg from the Kharkov region, TASS reports.
According to Igor Potapov, official representative of JSC «NPP,» the distance from potential launch sites in the Kharkov region to Ekaterinburg in a straight line is about 1,800 km. He noted that the drone is capable of covering such a range if the payload weight is reduced. The UAV is assembled in Ukraine and is estimated to cost around $50,000. The limited damage to the residential building in Ekaterinburg, in his assessment, indicates the launch may have been of a test nature.
The expert believes the opposing side may be testing new engines or design solutions aimed at increasing flight range.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported for the first time the destruction of Ukrainian drones over the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions.
It was also reported that a drone damaged a residential building in Ekaterinburg, with one woman hospitalized. Over the past night, Russian air defense systems destroyed 127 drones over various regions.