Russia elite 'ready to disobedience' as Putin losing grip
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned to Iran for its terrifying “Kamikaze drones” after it emerged that his troops have suffered staggering losses on the battlefield. Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone is a terrifying long-range weapon which can travel more than 1,500 miles, also dubbed the “suicide drone”, which can whiz through the air at speeds of 120mph.
The weapons operate using a “one-way loitering munition”, meaning they are designed to find and then crash into their target – just like Japanese Kamikaze plans were known to do in World War II. The drones, which also have a wingspan of 2.5metres and cost around $10,000 (£8,675), have reportedly been shot down amid the conflict in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have shot down the Iranian-made weapons near Kupiansk on Tuesday as part of the offensive as it makes serious ground on the battlefield.
The Ministry of Defence said: “Russia has highly likely deployed Iranian uncrewed aerial vehicles [UAV] in Ukraine for the first time.
“On September 13, 2022, Ukrainian officials reported that their forces had shot down a Shahed-136 UAV near Kupiansk, in the area of Ukraine’s successful ongoing offensive.”
It comes after Ukraine reportedly managed to free around 150,000 Ukrainians from Russian occupation in their offensive in Kharkiv in the country’s north east.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said his troops gained around 3,100 sq miles (8,000 sq km) of territory in the area previously held by Russian forces.
While the Kremlin has attempted to spin its setback, claiming its troops are “regrouping” rather than retreating, even Russia’s state media, which is usually an ardent backer of its President, is admitting that its army is struggling.
Russian expert Katia Glod spoke to Times Radio this week: “What we have seen so far within the Russian regime is them trying to save face, saying to the public that this is not a retreat. Saying ‘this is a regrouping, this is what was planned.’
“Even though this is the narrative, it is not the only narrative. We have seen from some state official newspapers in recent days saying that the Ukrainian army is stronger, that they have not done their work well.”
The losses have also sparked fury among patriotic Russians who expect their army to do better.
Volodymyr Solovyov, one of Putin’s most loyal propagandists, wrote on his Telegram: “I do not justify anyone, especially do not argue with the fact that many bosses in uniform (I can not call them commanders) deserve to be dismissed in disgrace, and some of them should be shot, and I can even name a few names to decision makers.”
The use of “Kamikaze drones” also comes amid reports that Russia’s army is struggling due to depleted weaponry stocks as Ukraine continues to make ground.
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Back in June, the Kremlin submitted a bill to the State Duma (Russian Parliament) calling for “special economic measures” for “counterterrorist and other operations” outside of the country.
But it included an explanatory note warning that there is “a short-term increased need for the repair of weapons and military equipment” for the war in Ukraine.
Now, it appears Russia is turning to sanctioned states such as Iran and North Korea to source its weaponry.
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