Russians start launching Shahed drones from Krasnodar region due to concerns about Crimea’s vulnerability - UK intelligence

The change of launch site for Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Krasnodar region is likely due to Russian concerns about the vulnerability of Crimea.

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in an intelligence update, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that in recent days, there has been an uptick in Russia’s campaign of long-range strikes against Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure. The Russian forces also used Iranian-provided UAVs being launched from Russia’s Krasnodar region.

“Previously these UAVs had been primarily launched from locations within occupied Crimea. The change of launch site is likely due to Russian concerns about the vulnerability of Crimea, while it is also convenient for resupply from the weapons’ likely arrival point in Russia, at Astrakhan,” the report says.

As Ukrinform reported, the British intelligence earlier said that Russian forces have continued to expend considerable effort to construct extensive defensive positions along the front line in Luhansk region, however, such constructions are likely to be vulnerable to modern, precision indirect strikes.

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