Ukrainian drones have conducted a bold attack on a highly classified Russian super-weapon testing facility linked to Vladimir Putin. The purpose of this pre-emptive strike was to disrupt Russia’s upcoming launches of the ‘unstoppable’ Oreshnik missiles. The targeted location was the 4th State Central Inter-Service Test Range Kapustin Yar in the Astrakhan Region, as reported by specialized military website Militarnyi.
Despite being approximately 500 miles away, the Ukrainian drones successfully breached Russian air defenses and targeted an assembly and testing building at the Kapustin Yar site near the Kazakhstan border. This attack coincided with intelligence reports suggesting that Putin is preparing to launch a potentially devastating assault on Volodymyr Zelensky’s state within the next few days. There are concerns that this attack may involve deploying the nuclear-capable Oreshnik “super-weapon,” which can reach speeds of 8,000mph.
One potential objective of a new Russian offensive against Ukraine could be a “genocidal” campaign aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear power plant substations to coerce surrender. By targeting electricity transmission substations, the Russians aim to disrupt the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, cutting off electricity and heating for the population. Additionally, Moscow plans to increase intimidation tactics towards European countries and the West to undermine support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
The Oreshnik missile, if utilized by Putin, would mark the second time this year following an incident on January 9 in Lviv. The weapon poses a significant threat to Europe and could potentially reach London within eight minutes if launched from a base in Belarus, according to Russian sources. The Kapustin Yar range, where the attack occurred, serves as a testing ground for various missiles, cruise missiles, air defense systems, and S-400 launchers. This top-secret military site is crucial for Russian missile and defense testing operations.
As tensions escalate, Ukraine is facing severe weather conditions with temperatures plummeting to -17°C, posing additional challenges for the population already enduring the impact of energy infrastructure attacks. Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces officer Oleksandr Musiienko cautioned about Russia’s preparations, citing the readiness of strategic bombers like the Tu-95 and a potential launch of Kalibr missiles, contingent on weather conditions.
Musiienko also warned of a possible Oreshnik strike coinciding with the annual Davos summit in Switzerland, where key world leaders convene. This strategic move by Putin aims to intimidate the Western nations and potentially delay security and economic agreements for Ukraine. Amid ongoing hostilities, civilian casualties have been reported, including a tragic incident where a 20-year-old woman lost her life in Russian attacks on residential areas in Kharkiv. Moreover, energy infrastructure in the Odesa region has been targeted, causing injuries as temperatures drop to -12°C. Attacks in other regions, such as Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy, have also resulted in casualties, including a seven-year-old boy.