Chechnya drone strike: Implications for Russian military training
The leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, reported that a drone struck the Putin Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya. Although only the roof of an empty building caught fire, it is noteworthy that the location is approximately 528 miles from the front line. Two explosions were reportedly heard on the university grounds. We explore what weapon might have been used in the attack.
The Russian Special Forces University was launched in 2013 by Ramzan Kadyrov, and in February 2024, it was named after Vladimir Putin. The facility is primarily intended to train special forces for deployment in military operations in Ukraine. The university in Gudermes is also equipped to produce FPV drones.
University in Chechnya hit: "special forces" trained there
The Ukrainian portal Defense Express notes that the university in Chechnya is essentially Kadyrov's initiative, making an attack on it more significant than on other Russian army training sites.
Official Ukrainian sources have not confirmed their involvement in the attack on the facility. However, it is worth noting that given the considerable distance of 528 miles from the front line, such a strike by the Ukrainians is quite plausible.
Ukrainian long-range drones
Let us recall that the Ukrainian armed forces currently possess several capabilities for attacking very distant targets within Russian territory. Noteworthy among them are "Bóbr" drones, whose full specifications remain confidential, but available information suggests they have a range of about 621 miles. The Bobry, with wings spanning 11 feet and a take-off weight of several dozen kilograms, can achieve a maximum speed of up to 124 mph.
It is also worth mentioning the Sokół-300 drone, which has been in development since 2022 and was recently unveiled. This advanced unmanned aerial vehicle can strike targets up to 2051 miles away from its starting point. The Sokół-300 can carry an explosive payload weighing up to 661 pounds, and its wings have a span of about 46 feet.
In addition to these, Ukraine also possesses UJ-22 Airborne and Rubaka drones. The UJ-22 Airborne has a range of about 497 miles, while the Rubaka can reach a distance of about 311 miles.
