An Associated Press investigation has shown that engineers are producing hundreds of decoy drones at a covert facility in the central grasslands of Russia in an attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses against a terrifying new weapon.
Alongside the decoys, the company at Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone recently began producing thermobaric drones, according to the research. A vortex of high pressure and heat produced by the thermobaric warheads can pierce substantial walls. They deplete all the oxygen in their route and are notorious for causing injuries even outside the original blast site, such as brain damage, collapsed lungs, and smashed eyes.
A source acquainted with the matter said that Russia developed the decoy scheme in late 2022 and code-named it Operation False Target.
