Operation False Target: How Russia plotted to mix a deadly new weapon among decoy drones in Ukraine

(16 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 26 October 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of burning residential building after Russian Shahed drone attack
2. Various of firefighters heading inside burning building
3. Various of medical emergency team carrying body of teenager killed in Russian drone attack on Kyiv
4. Various of firefighters near damaged residential building
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 14 November 2024
5. Various of Shahed drone
6. Various of engine
7. Close of thermobaric warhead of Shahed drone
8. Serviceperson "Raccoon" showing the thermobaric projectile, UPSOUND (Ukrainian): "The thermobaric warhead of the Shahed 136 attack drone."
9. Close of the thermobaric projectile, UPSOUND (Ukrainian): "Thermobaric composition is poured there."
10. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) "Raccoon," Ukrainian serviceperson:
"This usually works in closed premises. It could be houses, infrastructure objects, such as objects located not in an open area. Usually it's working in closed premises."
11. Close of warhead of Shahed drone
12. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) "Raccoon," Ukrainian serviceperson:
"This weapon is developing, developing very dynamically. There is no need to say anything here, in fact, in two and a half, almost three years, there was a change of six combat warheads with different effects that they created. In addition, navigation changes and other changes. This weapon develops very dynamically. We are absolutely not far behind them. We even have bigger and better achievements. It's just that when it comes to this kind of attack drone, they just have it massively."
13. Close of warhead of Shahed drone
14. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) "Raccoon," Ukrainian serviceperson:
"We have a lot (weapons made from Russian drones and rockets). I will not speak in numbers, but a lot of what flew to us returned to them."
15. Wide of Shahed drone
16. Close of warhead of Shahed drone
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 4 November 2024
17. Various of drone locator
18. Close of walkie talkie
19. Various of Ukrainian electronics expert Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov taking to AP journalists
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, Ukrainian electronics expert:
"According to this practice, of our of attack of Russia (inaudible) into Ukraine. They usually, first of all, launch Shahed, and after a couple of hours they are trying to attack us with missiles. So, the reason... first of all decrease the quantity of our missile and missile of air defence and after attack us with ballistic and cruise missile."
21. Close of name badge (English) "Flash" on uniform
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, Ukrainian electronics expert:
"I think the biggest part of Russia drone producing in Alabuga (Special Economic Zone). It's including a special R&D centre they're trying to create new warhead for Shahed. They develop new tactic, new strategy, how they use Shahed in Ukraine."
23. Remote control being demonstrated
STORYLINE:
A high-tech factory in central Russia is creating deadly thermobaric drones which are highly destructive, an Associated Press investigation has found.
They work by creating a vortex of high pressure and heat that can penetrate thick walls.
They suck out all the oxygen in their path, and have a fearsome reputation because of the injuries inflicted even outside the initial blast site.
These include collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs and brain damage.
But the Russians have another secret weapon.
Russia came up with the plan in late 2022 and codenamed it Operation False Target.
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