Russian missiles that destroy Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainians do not reach their targets without clear coordinates determined by navigation systems.

To guide missiles, Russia uses its own development of GLONASS, which is an analogue of GPS.

Her work depends on microchips produced by foreign companies.

This was reported in the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

What is GLONASS and how is it used by the Russian Federation

GLONASS was created back in Soviet times - in 1982.

This navigation system has a dual purpose, but it is now being used by the Russian military to guide missiles at Ukrainian cities.

"There is a weak point in the Russian navigation system - GLONASS depends on microchips produced by foreign companies.

Russian missiles and drones are equipped with foreign-made GLONASS-enabled microchips – usually civilian chips, but the Russians use them for military purposes.

The chips receive and process coordinates from GLONASS, and the missiles use this information to navigate in space and aim at Ukrainian civil and energy infrastructure," noted Ukrainian intelligence officers.

Chips are used in at least such weapons as Orlan-10 and Shahed-136 drones, Tornado-S and Smerch anti-aircraft missiles, Iskander, Kalibr and Dagger missiles, as well as aviation and cruise missiles X-101, X-555, X-38, X-59MK, X-31.

What companies make chips

GUR of the Ministry of Defense published a list of foreign companies that still continue to produce microchips with GLONASS support:

  • Linx Technologies (USA);

  • Broadcom (USA);

  • Qualcomm (USA);

  • Telit (USA);

  • Maxim Integrated (USA);

  • TRIMBLE (USA);

  • Cavli Wireless (USA);

  • u-blox AG (Switzerland);

  • STMicroelectronics (Switzerland);

  • Sierra Wireless (Canada);

  • NovAtel (Canada);

  • Septentrio (Belgium);

  • Antenova (UK).

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that Russia continues to purchase microchips with GLONASS support thanks to numerous front companies and distributors. 

"Without foreign-made GLONASS-enabled chips, Russians will have to build their own microelectronics from scratch.

In this case, export control and control by manufacturers will not work, because Russia is constantly inventing new ways of circumventing sanctions and purchasing technologies," Ukrainian military intelligence emphasized. 

GUR of the Ministry of Defense calls on foreign companies to stop producing chips with GLONASS support and remove the function of supporting this navigation system from all their devices.

Consequences of missile strikes

As you know, over the past two weeks, Ukraine has been subjected to the most extensive shelling during the entire period of the full-scale war. 

On November 15, Russia fired about 100 missiles at Ukrainian cities and villages.

A residential building was damaged in Kyiv - at least one person died.

Due to massive shelling, residents of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and many other settlements were partially or completely left without electricity and water.

On November 23, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 51 of 70 cruise missiles and five kamikaze drones launched by Russian forces over Ukraine.

Despite this, Russia has damaged energy and civilian infrastructure.

Most Ukrainian cities were cut off.

Russian missiles hit three high-rise buildings, killing 10 people.

Russia's massive shelling of Ukraine also affected Moldova's power grid, leaving part of the country without electricity.

It will be recalled that the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine assumed that the enemy would need about a week to prepare the next massive attack on Ukraine.

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