The Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces carried out another effective strike against critical targets on the territory of the aggressor state, according to an official Facebook post. On the night of January 1, operators from the 1st Separate USF Center, in coordination with the “Graf” unit, attacked the Ilsky Oil Refinery. This facility is one of the key refineries in southern Russia, with an annual capacity of approximately 6.6 million tons of crude oil.
The refinery produces a wide range of petroleum products, including fuel, mazut, bitumen, and gasoil, and plays a significant role in supplying fuel to Russian military equipment, particularly in southern regions and in temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. The strike caused a large-scale fire at the facility, and information on the full extent of the damage is still being clarified.
In addition, in the city of Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, operators from the same 1st Separate Unmanned Systems Forces Center struck the Northern Tank Farm. This facility is a large industrial complex operated by Tatneft. It is used for the collection, separation, processing, and storage of commercial crude oil prior to transportation to consumers. A fire was also reported at the site following the strike, and the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Ahead of the New Year, the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also released updated statistics on personnel losses inflicted on Russian forces. According to these data, from the establishment of the USF grouping through December 31, more than 50,000 enemy servicemen were hit, of whom over 28,500 were reported killed. During this period, operators conducted approximately 426,000 strike sorties and engaged more than 168,000 targets of various types. All results were confirmed and verified using the Delta situational awareness system.
“Equipment can be replaced and stockpiles replenished. Trained personnel, however, represent time spent on training and the ability to conduct combat operations,” the Unmanned Systems Forces stated. “For this reason, reducing the enemy’s manpower is one of the core objectives of the Unmanned Systems Forces.”
The statement was accompanied by a video highlighting selected moments from deep‑strike operations carried out over the year. According to the Unmanned Systems Forces, more than 350 strategic targets were successfully attacked, resulting in estimated monthly losses to the Russian economy of around USD 3 billion.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reported on his Telegram channel that today, in Donetsk region, operators from the Asgard 412 USF battalion “Nemesis” destroyed two high‑value enemy air defense systems. The targets included a Tor tactical surface-to-air missile system and a 50N6E radar from the S‑350 “Vityaz” air defense system. The latter is a key component of the medium-range system, designed to engage aircraft and cruise missiles.
According to Brovdi, the S‑350 radar is a relatively new weapon, introduced into service starting in 2021 as a replacement for Buk systems. It is a highly capable and valuable system, capable of simultaneously detecting and tracking up to 40 aerial targets, with an engagement range of up to 60 km and an altitude envelope of up to 25 km.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi also noted that USF aerial systems operate against air defense assets at depths of up to several hundred kilometers, as such systems are not deployed directly on the front line. Their role is to protect airspace from drones and long‑range strike weapons. As a result, attacks are carried out using mid‑range strike systems equipped with warheads weighing several tens of kilograms, and in some cases more than 100 kg. Equipment of this type, which lacks meaningful armor protection, has little chance of remaining operational after a direct hit. Once a target is detected and engaged, the outcome for the opposing side is effectively predetermined.
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Source: facebook
