¿Ucrania tiene su propio misil balístico?

Ukrainian forces have successfully disabled the largest oil refinery in Russia, the Gazprom Neft facility in Omsk, using a drone that flew for over 12 hours to reach its target in Siberia. The attack marks the longest-range drone strike by Ukrainian forces during the war, with the unmanned aircraft traveling approximately 2,500 kilometers from Ukraine to the remote location. This operation has significantly disrupted Russian energy production and logistics, according to reports from local media and international news agencies. The attack targeted key sections of the refinery’s operations, beginning with the distillation unit, which processes 24,580 tons of crude oil per day, accounting for roughly 38 percent of the plant’s total capacity. A fire broke out after the drone struck this section, causing extensive damage. Shortly afterward, operators shut down another major unit due to damaged network connections, which contributed an additional 37 percent of the refinery’s processing power. As a result, nearly 75 percent of Omsk’s refining capacity was lost within a short time, leading to fears of fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations throughout the city. The distance of 2,500 kilometers set a new record for the range of Ukrainian drones, highlighting advancements in their design and operational capabilities. The drone used in the attack, the FP-1 produced by Fire Point, features a fuselage made of bonded wood, wings constructed from foam, and reinforced structures using glass or carbon fiber. It can take off from a fixed runway or cargo plane and originally had a range of 1,600 kilometers with a payload capacity of up to 60 kilograms of explosives. In recent months, Fire Point has introduced a new variant with an extended fuel tank mounted on the wings, increasing the range to 2,700 kilometers. For the attack on Omsk, engineers at Fire Point further modified the drone, reducing its weight while increasing fuel capacity and wing span. According to a company collaborator, Denys Schtilerman, Ukrainian designers spent more than a week planning the route to avoid detection by Russian air defenses. The success of the mission underscores the growing sophistication of Ukrainian military technology and tactics. The cost of producing one FP-1 drone is less than $55,000, or around €48,000, according to Fire Point. The company claims it produces approximately 100 units daily. Director Iryna Terech noted that this model accounts for about 60 percent of all Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory. Slow-moving and low-flying drones pose a significant challenge to Russian air defense systems, which were primarily designed to intercept high-speed aircraft and ballistic missiles. Despite the deployment of Su-57 fighter jets during the attack, multiple drones managed to penetrate Russian airspace undetected. This attack on the Omsk refinery is part of a broader and systematic campaign by Ukrainian forces targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure. The goal of these attacks is to reduce Russian revenue from oil sales and complicate logistical support for the Russian military. According to some estimates, Ukrainian strikes have reduced Russia’s overall oil refining capacity by between 20 and 40 percent since the start of such operations. The refinery in Omsk processed around 22 million tons of crude oil in 2024, equivalent to approximately 440,000 barrels per day. It produces five million tons of gasoline and eight million tons of diesel annually, meeting about 12.5 percent of national gasoline production. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky commented on the successful strike, stating that it demonstrates the effectiveness of the country’s efforts against Russian energy infrastructure. The attack continues to disrupt Russian supply chains and highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare, where precision strikes and technological innovation play a critical role in shaping battlefield outcomes.