The Intel Crab Profile picture
Apr 29 10 tweets 3 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
The fire may be out, but questions remain regarding the size, origin, and payload of the drone used in last night's attack.

Here's what we know so far...
Two blasts - one at 4:20 AM local time and one a minute later at 4:21 AM - were heard from across the harbor.

The attached photo was taken no later than 4:40 AM local time from a neighboring port, according to sources. Image
The drone(s) came from the direction of Cape Fiolent, were visible to the naked eye, and flew at a low altitude just minutes before detonation. Image
DJI footage shows numerous charred tanks, but two near the center of the screen appear to have suffered severe structural damage that does NOT match the surrounding thermal damage other tanks experienced. Image
These tanks can be seen here. Both are heavily engulfed at ~4:40 AM local time. Tank three (right) was also igniting at this time. Image
I'm pretty confident both tanks were targeted at the same time. Either one UAV detonated between the two and damaged both tanks or two seperate UAVs targeted each.

Locals do report two seperate explosions a minute apart, after all. Image
So where did they come from? Sea-based platform? Meh. Not too sure about that. Image
They most likely departed the Odesa region, which means it could be a Mugin-5-style drone with custom payload. Image
As for the odd southern approach, it was likely an attempt to avoid the neighboring air base, where anti-air guns and electronic jammers are housed. Image
Final note. The tanks were not extinguished. They simply ran out of fuel to burn. Even intact silos will be unable to release fuel (system wide pressure loss/possible control loss) until repairs can be made.

This was an excellent, cost effective attack by the Ukrainian army.

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More from @IntelCrab

Feb 12
Not to be that guy, but...uh...another TFR was just posted: this time for portions of northern Lake Michigan. Advisory is in place until further notice for national security aircraft operations.
Here we go again. Predictable sight. Lone USAF KC-135R tanker on task over the Door peninsula.
Read 5 tweets
Feb 12
Waiting for the official boundary to be posted, but a NEW TFR has been issued near #Havre, MT.

It is labeled as national defense airspace until further notice.
USAF KC-135R mid-air refueling craft is on task just outside Great Falls, MT. Took off from Fairchild AFB.
Read 4 tweets
Feb 10
An interesting NOTAM was issued (and remains in place) for portions of northern #Alaska near Prudhoe Bay this morning.

Advisory states closure is due to 'national security aircraft operations'. Image
A USAF C-130J is on task in the area. Has been orbiting a specific area for the last 30 minutes or so. Image
Not worth speculating. Just an interesting find. Full advisory can be found here:

tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/det…
Read 6 tweets
Feb 4
3~ hours until our balloon friend is turned into swiss cheese.
(hopefully)
Nothing too special to note. SNIPER team has been up all morning. The USGC HC-130 has excellent SAR capabilities, however, and would do an excellent job sighting the balloon debris, should a shootdown occur.
Read 4 tweets
Dec 21, 2022
Starting to see an almost overwhelming amount of drone footage come out of #Bakhmut from Ukrainian forces. Here's a look at the plasterboard factory to the east of downtown...
For reference. Site is in far worse shape than I thought.
Here's the money shot. Drone operator appears to point to current Russian positions, which lie just beyond the now destroyed apartment complex on the border of town.
Read 6 tweets
Dec 21, 2022
We last saw this apartment complex (also via drone) less than three weeks ago. Almost nothing left of them since then.
Note: Drone flyover flew from E-W, not W-E as seen above.
This area (along with areas to the south near Opytne) remain contested, from my understanding. Still waiting to hear about the city dump.
Read 4 tweets

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