Confusion and silence: Russian sources struggle to identify weapon used in Ukrainian Taganrog strike
Russian sources appear to be in disarray over reports related to the use of Ukrainian ATACMS missiles on Taganrog.
As the Russian Defense Ministry and Kremlin remain silent, an overnight missile strike on December 11 targeted an unspecified "industrial facility" in Taganrog, Russia. According to Defense Express, the intended target was the "Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G. M. Beriev," where A-50 AWACS aircraft are manufactured. Meanwhile, Russian propagandists claim the city was hit by Ukrainian "Palianytsya" drone missiles. Reports from Russian social media indicate the strike occurred around 4:20 a.m., with local residents hearing approximately 10 explosions over the city. It later emerged that the facility sustained damage and 14 cars burned in a parking area. There is no official acknowledgment yet from the Ukrainian military about the use of such weaponry on Taganrog, but Ukrainian analysts speculate that Ukraine possesses means for such operations, including kamikaze drones and Hellfire-type cruise missiles recently supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Concurrently, Russian channel SHOT has disseminated information suggesting the strike might have been delivered by the Ukrainian "Palianytsya" missile. The purported technical specifics were briefly outlined: a range of 750 km, a speed of 900 km/h, and a warhead weight of 30-50 kg. However, these details conflict with characteristics of the missile that have been mentioned by Ukrainian experts. While much about the missile remains classified, military expert Oleksiy Hetman suggested in September that the "Palianytsya" might achieve a range of up to 700 km, a speed of 500 km/h, and a warhead weight of around 100 kg.
Russian propaganda appears confused. Meanwhile, details about the weapon system used against the plant in Taganrog are inconsistent within Russian media sources. Some Russian outlets speculate that ballistic missiles ATACMS might have been employed in the Taganrog attack, though local authorities suggest drones were used. Another well-known Russian channel Mash reported today that Ukrainian "Hellfire" missiles hit Taganrog and Bryansk, claiming the attack was a combined operation involving several weapon systems. Russian sources lament that Ukraine now mass-produces such missiles. Notably, there are mentions of ATACMS missile strikes from Russian war correspondents who have criticized the Kremlin over the repeated crossing of "red lines" tied to U.S. permission for Ukraine to use long-range American weaponry against Russia. As of now, the Russian Defense Ministry and Kremlin have neither confirmed nor denied reports of Ukrainian forces using "Palianytsya" and ATACMS missiles in the Rostov region.
Previously, reports indicated that Bryansk's oil refinery also came under attack on the night of December 11. Local authorities claim that 10 UAVs were allegedly shot down by air defense systems.