Silicon Bites #81 - Ukrainian Drones Pound Russian Infrastructure on a Totally Unprecedented Scale

Edition No81 | 15-01-2025 - Ukraine has steadily been increasing its strikes against targets deep within Russia since the conclusion of the US election. But before we get into the details of the latest strikes over the weekend, let’s review how this started last week with the huge, 'multi-day’ targeting of Russia's Engels airbase infrastructure. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Ukraine has targeted Russia's Engels airbase and associated infrastructure in 'multi-day, comprehensive operation'. This was reported by Kyiv's 14th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment reported on Jan. 14. This unit is part of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces; they claimed the attacks were intended to "reduce the enemy's strategic aviation capabilities". It’s also been reported, and footage on social media seems to attest to this, that they struck aviation fuel tanks at the Kristal oil plant used to supply Russian long-range bomber aircraft. "We are doing our best to ensure that Engels fire crews, who have just put out the flames after the previous attack, are not left without work in the face of the increasingly difficult economic situation in Russia." The Ukrainian unit is quoted as saying. The attack had also seemed to have targeted ammunition warehouses at the airbase which store cruise missiles and glide bombs. Several explosions were heard in the area, according to local reports from Russian Telegram channels. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-targets-russias-engels-airbase-in-multi-day-comprehensive-operation-drone-forces-report/ https://kyivindependent.com/drones-reportedly-attack-russian-chemical-plant-in-tatarstan/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-chemical-plants-refineries-warehouses-in-russia/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-ukraine-targets-russian-industrial-plants-ammunition-depots-in-overnight-strike/ https://kyivindependent.com/drone-attack-damages-industrial-facility-in-russias-saratov-region/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------