In a substantial move to curb Ukraine’s intensified drone attacks, Russia has proclaimed to deploy over 100 satellites into orbit to elevate its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) control and surveillance capabilities.
The move comes in the wake of a series of Ukrainian drone strikes that have penetrated deep into Russian territory, reportedly inflicting serious damage on strategic military assets. Speaking at the Digital Industry Conference on Tuesday, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov revealed that a new satellite network comprising 102 satellites and an additional spacecraft will be launched as part of the Kremlin’s space and security strategy.
Bakanov remarked that these satellites will be pivotal in securing real-time control and monitoring of unmanned aerial systems, adding that the expanded satellite coverage would serve a cardinal role in defense, communications, and remote monitoring domains.
According to Russian authorities, the deployment is meant at countering the mounting peril posed by the Ukrainian drones, which have recently struck military airbases up to 2,500 miles within Russian borders. The international analysts analogized a recent Ukrainian assault — which reportedly destroyed numerous Russian aircraft — to Russia’s own version of a “Pearl Harbor” moment.
The Ukrainian intelligence has purportedly claimed that the June 1 strike, carried out by Ukraine’s domestic security agency SBU, involved over 117 drones and caused an estimated $7 billion in damages. According to their assessment, nearly one-third of Russia’s cruise missile reserves were wiped out in the operation.
The escalation has raised fears of a strong retaliatory response from Moscow, as tensions between the two nations continue to mount amid the prolonged war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
On the other hand, the second negotiation round held between the two countries in Turkey hasn’t drawn any substantial outcomes to broker a ceasefire between them, as tensions have skyrocketed between Russia and Ukraine.
Source: Minute Mirror
MSK/
