A Ukrainian strike drone struck a Russian launcher on the grounds of Donetsk Airport. In a video being circulated by Ukrainian channels, several Russian soldiers can be seen near the launcher — the strike occurred just as they had gathered next to the equipment. The authors of the reports claim that the launch pad was used to launch «Shahed» rockets. Russia has turned Donetsk Airport into one of its major sites for the storage, preparation and launch of attack drones.
Briefly about the main points
- A Ukrainian drone struck a Russian launcher on the grounds of Donetsk Airport.
- In the video, a group of Russian soldiers can be seen near the installation immediately before the strike.
- Russia has long been using Donetsk Airport as a base for attack drones.
The drone flew directly into the airport grounds
The widely circulated footage shows an area of Donetsk Airport and military equipment, with several people standing nearby. A few moments later, a strike occurs. On social media, this moment is described as a strike on the launcher just as Russian soldiers were allegedly gathering around it for a group photo. The fact that people were standing nearby is clearly visible in the photo.
Donetsk Airport has become a base for the «Shaheeds»
Russian troops have been using the territory of the destroyed Donetsk airport as a military logistics hub for strike drones.
According to OSINT research, over a hundred shelters for UAVs, warehouses, and both fixed and mobile launch pads have been set up at the airfield. Some of the installations are disguised as vehicles.
The airport is under constant fire
The 1st Separate Unmanned Systems Centre had previously stated that it had effectively brought Donetsk Airport under fire control.
According to the unit, Ukrainian forces are systematically targeting launchers, vehicles, refuelling vehicles, depots and crews directly within the airfield. The aim is to make it as difficult as possible to use the site for launching attack UAVs.
The day before, the General Staff also reported that a storage, preparation and launch site for attack drones, as well as a telecommunications hub belonging to Russian forces, had been struck in the Donetsk area.
Drones were launched again from occupied Donetsk last night
On the night of 5 October, Russia attacked Ukraine 137 drones of various types, including 49 jet-powered attack drones. The temporarily occupied city of Donetsk has been officially designated as one of the launch sites.
It is precisely the proximity of Donetsk Airport to the front line that makes it particularly dangerous: once launched from there, attack drones have a significantly shorter flight time to Ukrainian cities in the east of the country.
