File image.
The Russian military has attacked a logistics hub of Kiev forces in the northern outskirts of the Sumy region in eastern Ukraine with Geran suicide drones.
Video footage of the drone attack was posted to social networks on April 19. The footage shows multiple Geran drones impacting the logistics hub where several military trucks were parked. Several secondary blasts, most likely caused by stored ammunition, can be also seen in the footage.
The Russian military launched a major offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, which neighbors Sumy, last month. Kiev forces were expelled from the region as a result. Currently, an unknown number of Ukrainian troops are trapped along the region’s border and the Russian military is developing its offensive into Sumy.
Russia produces two versions of the Geran. They are alleged to be copies of the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and 136 suicide drones.
The Shahed-131 has a range of 900 kilometers with a warhead weighing 15 kilograms, while the Shahed-136 has a range of 2,500 kilometers with a warhead weighing 50 kilograms. Both drones are guided by a satellite-aided inertial navigation system.
The logistics hub in Sumy was likely targeted with Geran-1 drones, as the city is only located some 30 kilometers away from the Russian border.
The slightly larger Geran-2 drones are usually preserved for strikes against targets located deeper into Ukrainian territories.
Russia has reportedly developed a long-range loitering munition based on the Geran-2 equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and a two-way datalink. However, it is unclear yet if this version has entered active service with the Russian military yet.
There were also reports of ongoing work on a jet-powered version dubbed the Geran-3 with a higher speed and less visibility.
The small radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature of Geran drone make them very difficult to detect and intercept. So far, Ukrainian attempts to stop these drones with air defense fire and electronic warfare have been mostly unsuccessful.
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russia dont be a sucker, the ukros nazists are not interested in cease fires or peace agreements
well done, residents should understand “their” illegitimate, pretend slav president asked for this…