Russian Oil Refineries and Ports Driving Interceptor Drone Demand

SIMFEROPOL, September 23. /TASS/. Oil refineries and ports, including those not classified as critical infrastructure, are currently the main users of interceptor drones in Russia, Mikhail Filippov, founder and CEO of the all-Russian Archangel drone pilot training and unmanned technologies development project, told TASS.

"Orders for the development of protection systems using interceptor drones are currently coming primarily from oil sector enterprises, port operators, and warehouse owners--facilities that the enemy is actively targeting," he said.

According to him, the Ukrainian armed forces have also been targeting facilities that are not included in the list of critical infrastructure. This forces owners to bear additional costs to protect their facilities.

Filippov added that a number of warehouses are being included in the list, as the project facilitates this through cooperation with regional authorities. At the same time, most warehouses operate on a post-payment system--they store products from manufacturers, for which payment is received only upon delivery. Damage to warehouses leads to logistical disruptions and losses for manufacturers.

The Archangel project has been operated by a group of enthusiasts since 2022. The project has centers in various cities, with overall coordination handled from Moscow, Crimea, and the Zaporozhye Region.