The Ukrainian military has carried out a series of successful drone attacks on Donetsk airport, which is held by Russian occupation forces. Thus, they prevented Moscow’s attempt to turn the object into a military base, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) announced.
The airport, which ceased civilian operations in 2014, was converted by Russia into an operational military base. From there, he launches Shahed drones, cheap but devastating aircraft that strike residential buildings, kindergartens and hospitals across Ukraine at night. The operations are managed by the elite Russian unit Rubikon, stationed at that very airport, which also served as a key logistics center, writes Kyiv Independent.
The airport also served as a logistical hub for the Russian military, according to the USF’s 14th Regiment.
“A decision was made to carry out systematic preventive strikes that will disrupt enemy launches and reduce the number of drones flying again towards kindergartens, residential buildings and hospitals,” he said. Seraphim “Falcon” Hordienkothe USF 14th Regiment officer who planned the operation.
Hordienko described the series of attacks on Donetsk Airport as “the first such operation in modern history.” The attacks damaged engineering equipment, fuel depots and logistics facilities.
The army claims that ammunition depots and launch positions for Shahed drones were also destroyed.
In parallel, Ukrainian forces are hunting mobile fire groups and Russian anti-aircraft systems in order to force the opponent to cancel flights and, as they say, “completely degrade the ecosystem of the airport.”
The attack on Donetsk airport is not an isolated incident. Back in March 2026, Ukrainian forces hit that object with SCALP (Storm Shadow) missiles and American ATACMS missiles and damaged the Shahed drone launch site. In November and December 2025, the USF also attacked drone warehouses at the airport.
