On Sunday morning, multiple drone attacks rocked Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, targeting key military installations. Reports began surfacing around 7 AM on the Telegram channel NIYSO, indicating significant military actions within Russian-occupied territories.
According to the channel, two drones crashed during the assault, with one targeting the second regiment of the special police patrols and the other hitting the OMON base. The initial attack reportedly followed gunfire, adding to the chaos as the drone explosions were heard throughout the city, with at least five explosions recorded.
NIYSO provided details of the attack, stating, "Neben dem OMON-Stützpunkt und dem 2. Regiment stürzte die Drohne auch auf einen Militärstützpunkt ab, von wo aus gewöhnlich Menschen in die Ukraine geschickt werden. Es befindet sich neben dem Gelände des ehemaligen 9. Stadtkrankenhauses,” explaining the strategic significance of the military base used for operations toward Ukraine.
Video footage purportedly captured the moment the drones impacted their targets, heightening concerns over the resilience and reach of Ukrainian forces aggressing deep within Russian territory. Previous reports noted another drone attack on December 12 against the special police regiment led by Achmat Kadyrow, signaling a pattern of intensified hostilities.
Sources from opposition Telegram channels NIYSO and Ostoroschno Nowosti confirmed the incidents, noting, "Es sind mehrere Drohnen eingeschlagen," emphasizing the scale and perplexity surrounding these drone incursions. No details have emerged yet concerning potential damage or casualties.
Since the beginning of this month, this drone strike marks the third suspected Ukrainian attack on Chechnya, alluding to a calculated effort to disrupt Russian military operations. Notably, the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrow, previously vowed retaliation following earlier incidents, highlighting his commitment to support Kremlin's military agenda.
Ramzan Kadyrow is known as an unwavering ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has played a pivotal role as a hardliner during the conflict. Under his leadership, the republic has sent substantial troops to Ukraine, reinforcing fears about the continuation of violence spilling over from the battlefield.
This flurry of drone strikes raises pressing questions about the efficacy of Chechen defenses and the Ukrainian military's capabilities to conduct operations so far behind enemy lines. With rising tensions, Grozny itself may not be the end of its sister city’s nightmares, but potentially the launchpad for broader future strikes targeting Russian interests.
Despite the increasing hostilities, no official statement has emerged from Russian authorities concerning the drone incidents. This silence is telling, hinting at potential operational vulnerabilities and the psychological impact of drone warfare on Russian morale.
What remains to be seen is how the situation will develop after these attacks, particularly whether Kadyrow will act upon his threats or if Russian forces will step up measures to counteract these incursions. Meanwhile, the international community watches closely, as the conflict’s dynamics continue to shift dramatically.
