Warmate Drones

Ukraine's Systematic Shelling of the ZNPP: Warmate Drones

September 24, 2022 (rough, incomplete) last edits 9/26

Polish-made "Warmate" loitering munition drones, made by WB Group - manufacturer's site: https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/produkt/warmate-loitering-munnitions/

First noted in Ukraine is April: "the performance characteristics of Warmate are frankly weak. And the nature of the hostilities is such that this kamikaze drone is unlikely to affect the situation." https://t.me/epoddubny/10044 

The weapon could have outsized effect, however, if it were used where minor damage can have major political effect, like a nuclear power plant. 

April 27 A drone of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Polish manufacturer "Warmate" attacked the city of Energodar in the Zaporozhye region. Both drones were shot down by Russian forces. - https://twitter.com/GarryP40090847/status/1519355510008471552 - Shows Czech-made AXi electric motor - https://twitter.com/jesusfroman/status/1519362897150980106

The Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to attack the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and the administration of the city of Energodar with kamikaze drones, but the National Guard shot them down. 

https://twitter.com/UKRWarSitRep/status/1519363016348913664

Photo: yet to geolocate

July 12: "First Documentation of the UAF kamikaze drones shot down near Zaporozhye NPP published. Ukrainian militants used these drones to carry out an attack in the area of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and the city heating and water canal in Energodar. 12-07-2022" https://twitter.com/Lastkombo/status/1547319135520100352 Photo: a little outside the plant grounds, near the road in. See Sept. 1. 

July 12: Ukrainian drones have been aiming at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant,to create false flag. "today,Ukraine have tried to use drones in attacks on Energodar 6 times.3 of them were shot down,”a spokesman for the city - https://twitter.com/coope125/status/1546906932707053575 - video includes an apparent Warmate and another, more slender model with longer wings. - The Armed forces of Ukraine tried to hit the Zaporozhye NPP with kamikaze drones. This was stated in the administration of Energodar, reports @rian_ru . Of the six, two barrage ammunition was aimed at the nuclear power plant. - https://twitter.com/talsalihy3/status/1547084521169895424 - https://twitter.com/GueberB/status/1547011397397233666

July 20: at least 2 Warmate drones used to attack MLRS, military tent camp on the ZNPP grounds. 3 soldiers reportedly killed, 12 wounded.

https://defence-blog.com/polish-made-kamikaze-drone-slam-into-russian-military-camp/ - https://t.me/rian_ru/171737 - https://twitter.com/MaroussiaAML/status/1550149250687926273 - https://libyancivilwar.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-militarization-of-znpp-part-2.html

from 7/20 or 21: Remains of Polish Kamikaze drone 'Warmate' after the attack near Enerhodar, Ukraine - https://twitter.com/PrateekRoutray/status/1550210595852587010 - scene video - https://twitter.com/trx_guillaume/status/1550040403822497793 - The Ukr attacked the Nuclear Power Plant in #Energodar with 2 kamikaze drones (Polish Warmate's). 1 was shot down and the other crashed on the premises but luckily didn't cause any serious damage - https://twitter.com/FeWoessner/status/1550808832896634882 - Shows Czech-made AXi electric motor.

July 28: The military-civilian administration of Energodar showed the consequences of a UAV drone strike on a residential building where employees of the Zaporozhye NPP live. No one died in the attack - https://twitter.com/ntvru/status/1552590588565852160 - https://twitter.com/william_jengu/status/1552645475714535424

July 30: “Kiev used drones to attack #civilian vehicles in the city of Energodar. The cars had the markings of a humanitarian mission. The overnight attack occurred on empty vehicles parked on the street and that there were no casualties.” - https://twitter.com/friendofrussia/status/1553387023238561793

Aug. 14: The armed forces of Ukraine again hit the Zaporozhye NPP and the city of Energodar. The shelling was carried out with the use of barrage ammunition — kamikaze drones. Previously, a local resident's dog died. There is no exact information about the fate of his master. - https://twitter.com/ivan_8848/status/1558825698357387266 - another cut of the video includes a dead dog - https://twitter.com/trx_guillaume/status/1558911685661958146

Aug. 16: Stocks of Warmate and other drones may be running low. "Lithuanian online TV channel Laisves TV has started a fundraiser to buy a fleet of loitering munitions for Ukraine’s armed forces. The new campaign, humorously called Legion of Boom, hopes to raise between €4 and €5 million ($4.1-$5.1 million) to acquire between 80 and 100 drones. It is set to run until August 24, 2022, the Independence Day of Ukraine." - https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/31922-lithuania-tv-fundraiser-legion-of-boom

Aug. 26: Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced on August 26 that Lithuania will purchase 37 kamikaze drones for Ukraine with the funds raised by the Legion of Boom fundraising campaign for arms for Ukraine, organized by Lithuanian journalist Andryus Tapinas and dedicated to Ukraine’s Independence Day on 24 August. According to Tapinas, by the time the collection was completed, Lithuanians had donated 1.545 million euros.

As Tapinas reported on Facebook, 27 Polish Warmate kamikaze drones will be purchased for 1 million euros, and their manufacturer, WB Group, will provide ten more drones to Ukraine free of charge.

... The kamikaze drones purchased by Lithuania with funds collected within the Legion Of Boom are to be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in October-November, as was stated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petro Beshta at an online briefing on Wednesday, the correspondent of Ukrinform reports.

https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/09/21/27-kamikaze-drones-bought-by-lithuanians-in-fundraising-campaign-will-arrive-in-ukraine-in-october-november/

Aug. 28, with crowdfunded replacements on the way, at least 4 Warmates are used up at ZNPP. The first attack I know of since July 20 targeted special building 1 with stored radioactive waste

One drone shown above (re-assembled later) was shot down on the roof, landing at its elevated middle (scene below). The other 3 impacted the roof on a NE-SW flight path and detonated, causing moderate damage (impacts A, B, C below). Two big tears were made in the southern half of the roof and seen up-close, and one was made on the north half, only seen by satellite - next to the southern 2, some blown-off wingtips nearby (right) - facing south to the training center, the impacts are just off-frame to the right. 

https://t.me/intelslava/36118

https://libyancivilwar.blogspot.com/2022/09/ukraines-systematic-shelling-of-znpp_15.html

Aug. 31: A Ukrainian drone was shot down by the Russian military near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. As the Russian security forces who arrived at the scene told us, this is presumably a Polish-made Warmate drone....31-08-2022. https://twitter.com/Lastkombo/status/1565168575555551233 

A wing and (power unit?) are seen. Location: alongside the road into the plant - Google Maps street view - July 12 crash site is a bit north, and I think east, under the 2nd set of power lines.

Comparing the (power unit?) of the Aug. 28 and Aug. 31 drones - two of the same thing = if one is Warmate, both are. There's a serial number the WB Group at least could check.

Aug. 31: The moment of the impact of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the use of a kamikaze drone bombarding the mayor's office of Energodar - https://twitter.com/Lastkombo/status/1565169962624450560 - https://twitter.com/theLemniscat/status/1565261819425525760 - nighttime surveillance camera footage

Sept. 1-2: IAEA team visits the plant. No drone attacks in this time. 

Later on Sept. 2 Ukrainian drone with a warhead was shot down in the area of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the projectile did not detonate, the Energodar administration told RIA - https://twitter.com/Vasilisa_2_0/status/1565758207619907586

Sept. 3: Another UAV was shot down a few hundred meters from the station Drone With Warhead Shot Down Near Zaporizhzhia NPP - Energodar Administration - UrduPoint

Sept. 4/5 possible use (Dedicated post): "On Sunday (4 Sept.), Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov announced that Russian forces thwarted an attempt by the Ukrainian army to attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains in normal condition, with eight drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that approached the nuclear plant were “blocked by Russian electronic warfare equipment,” Konashenkov specified, adding that Ukrainian forces also launched homing grenades at the facility." 

IAEA report on a successful attack: On 4 September, Ukraine reported further shelling impacting the top of Special Building 1, the railway/road in front of Reactor Building 2, and an elevated walkway for personnel between Buildings 2 and 3. - https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/22/09/ukraine-2ndsummaryreport_sept2022.pdf

The date issue may not matter, but it was Sept. 5 in the later afternoon that shelling was reported just then, with photos showing hits to s.b.1 roof, walkway, and in front of reactor 2, as described for the 4th. 

It is reported that literally half an hour ago the invaders again fired at the ZNPP. 9/5 5:55 PM in Ukraine - https://twitter.com/MarkRid89403375/status/1566802234532405248

Literally half an hour ago, the occupiers again shelled the ZNPP. As a result of the shelling of the ZNPP, strikes on the special corps were recorded. A damaged container with water in the immediate vicinity of the second block, local "authorities" reported. 9/5 5:50 PM in Ukraine - https://t.me/hyevuy_dnepr/35355

"Authorities" = first reported by Russian-affiliated local authorities in Energodar or Russian defense representatives at the plant? Original source and attached claims to be tracked down and added, if possible.

The manner of attack - missile, drone, or what - is unclear. But the roof impact fits right in with those of Aug. 28, which attack was done with Warmate drones. Here's from a satellite view of Sept. 21 showing two of the 8/29 impacts repaired and one remaining, with the new one near it in red. It seems a bit more limited than the southern 2, which raises the question: what's even weaker than a Warmate? FWIW, it seems to have a similar incoming angle from the northeast. 

The walkway impact (green) is also quite similar, and may be a second drone impact. It seems to appear on the later satellite view. However, I'm not clear on angle of view/time of day for this view; it's PM as in other photos of the set, and facing NW, presumably. But that doesn't look right for the crossing walkway - it's a better fit with SB2 roof, seen from atop the crossing passage in the morning ... (or ??), Either way, the damage is roughly perpendicular to this walkway, for a similar incoming angle roughly parallel with the walkway - from northeast or the southwest. The impact under the walkway in front of reactor 2 looks different, more powerfully explosive. The crater and ejecta might suggest a trajectory from the west. There might also be an unseen impact closer to the water tank that isn't damaged visibly, but it and/or a downed pipe are leaking water.

From there, a pattern emerged of Warmates used to attack administration and civil society groups in Russian-occupied Energodar. Their crowdfunded replacements might help amplify such outreach programs in the future.

Sept. 5: Two drones were shot down when they attempted to strike the headquarters of the "We are together with Russia" volunteer movement in #Energodar #Zaporozhye [#Zaporizhzhya] NPP, no casualties. - https://twitter.com/MeridionaliAura/status/1566727130871988225 - https://twitter.com/GueberB/status/1566764324093366276

Sept. 6: A Ukrainian drone dropped a projectile on the roof of the passport office in Energodar (ZNPP satellite city) , a part of Energodar civilian administration.  There were no casualties - https://twitter.com/elenaevdokimov7/status/1567045994419990528 - https://twitter.com/ProgettoLepanto/status/1567039674018930690

Sept. 8: A kamikaze drone of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the administration of Energodar....08-09-2022 - https://twitter.com/Lastkombo/status/1567965264771444738 - image at right - "Drone fell onto the roof of the Energodar administration. Operator has reportedly been captured." - https://twitter.com/ControlCompli8/status/1567859039719104512 - roof damage photo below

Total: just from this incomplete search, 16+ Warmate drones and some other UAVs used in Energodar and at the ZNPP, with at least 9 of them since the announcement, a month ago now, that replacements were on the way.