Ukraine targets Russian logistics highway with new drone

Key facts

• Ukraine's 412th Nemesis Brigade is using a new drone called the Morrigan.
• The Morrigan is a mid-range, fixed-wing drone designed for operations behind enemy lines.
• The drone targets Russia's R-280 'Novorossiya' logistics highway, located 50 to 75 miles behind the front lines.
• Attacks target supply and fuel convoys to disrupt Russian logistics.
• Russian-backed officials are working on alternative routes for the R-280 highway.

Ukraine has deployed a new mid-range drone, the Morrigan, to target Russian logistics routes far behind the front lines. The 412th Nemesis Brigade, part of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, revealed details and footage of the locally produced, fixed-wing drone. The Morrigan, described as a 'secret weapon,' is approximately 4 to 5 feet long and is launched without a runway. Its primary target has been the R-280 'Novorossiya' highway, a critical 370-mile route running from Rostov-on-Don to Crimea through occupied Ukrainian territory. This highway is typically situated 50 to 75 miles from the front lines. The brigade stated the drone has also been used in Crimea to destroy Russian air defense and support targets. The attacks on the R-280, which include supply and fuel convoys, aim to force Russia to pull back its supply lines from areas previously considered safe. Russian-backed officials have acknowledged intensified Ukrainian attacks on the highway since mid-May and are reportedly working on alternative routes. Russian state media has highlighted multiple attacks on the R-280 last week, and a portion of the highway was temporarily closed to non-essential civilian traffic.