Resistance movement kills top Russian drone chief in Moscow Oblast

Ukrainian intelligence reportedly coordinated with local resistance to eliminate Colonel Kolomoytsev, head of Russia's drone program, signaling an intensification of covert operations within Russian territory.

Sep 28, 2024 - 16:00
Resistance movement kills top Russian drone chief in Moscow Oblast

top Russian drone chief Aleksey Kolomoytsev killed in Russia.

A high-ranking Russian military officer responsible for drone operations has reportedly been killed in Moscow Oblast, according to Ukrainian intelligence sources. 

The Russian resistance movement emerged in opposition to the Kremlin after the full-scale invasion in 2022 and has been increasingly linked with Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR). It aims to weaken Russian military efforts from within, destabilize key regions in Russia, and undermine support for the war.

Colonel Aleksey Kolomoytsev, head of the 924th State Center for Unmanned Aviation of the Russian Ministry of Defense, was allegedly eliminated on the night of 27 September, HUR reports. 

The operation was carried out by a local resistance movement in coordination with Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

Kolomyeytsev played a crucial role in training Russian specialists in drone warfare, particularly focusing on operators and maintenance personnel for Iranian-made Shahed-type kamikaze drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles have been a significant component of Russia’s military strategy in its aggression against  Ukraine.

The reported elimination of such a high-ranking officer, if confirmed, could potentially disrupt Russia’s drone program and its operational capabilities. It also suggests an expansion of resistance activities within Russian territory.

“The resistance movement is scaling up, expanding its activities throughout Russia and beyond its borders, as we warned earlier,” stated an unnamed source quoted by the news media Interfax-Ukraine.

The same source added, “Every Russian war criminal, everyone involved in aggression against Ukraine is our target, regardless of position, age, gender, or location.” 

This statement suggests a broader strategy of targeting individuals deemed responsible for the war in Ukraine.

Neither Russian officials nor independent sources have yet confirmed these claims. 

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