Ukrainian drone units have launched a series of attacks on the Donetsk airport, occupied by Russia, thwarting Moscow’s attempt to turn it into a military base.
Ukrainian drone units are systematically destroying the enemy infrastructure at the Donetsk airport, making the operation of the airport impossible, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) reported on Thursday.
According to the source cited by Kiev Independent, Russian forces have turned the Donetsk airport into a strategic launch pad for Shahed-type drones - cheap but lethal attack drones that Russia sends in the hundreds to terrorize Ukrainian cities in nightly attacks. These are operated by Russia's elite unit, Rubikon, based at the airport.
The airport also served as a logistics center for the Russian army, specified the 14th regiment of the USF.
"The decision was made to carry out systematic preventive attacks that will disrupt enemy launches and reduce the number of enemy drones flying to attack kindergartens, high-rise buildings, and hospitals," said Serafim Hordiienko, officer of the 14th USF regiment, who planned the operation.
Hordiienko described the campaign of attacks on the Donetsk airport as "the first such operation in modern history."
Ukrainian drone operators systematically targeted the Russian base by destroying launch platforms and transport vehicles, while also targeting runway crews, according to the USF. The attacks damaged key equipment, fueling stations, and logistic centers.
The strikes also destroyed ammunition depots and Shahed launch platforms, announced the Ukrainian army.
In parallel with these attacks, the USF is targeting mobile firefighter groups and Russian air defense units to force flight cancellations, "completely degrading the airport ecosystem," the source mentioned.
"An important task for us was to apply the concept of asymmetric influence, where maximum battle results were achieved through minimal but precise actions," said Hordiienko. "For us, as a unit of strategic influence, the enemy's ability to carry out terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities is a personal matter," he added.
The announcement follows several reports of Ukrainian attacks on the Donetsk airport as Ukraine currently intensifies its campaign of "intermediate attacks" against Russian operations near the front line, as noted by Kiev Independent.
Ukrainian forces used long-range SCALP (Storm Shadow) and ATACMS missiles made in the USA to attack this target in March 2026, damaging the launch site of the airport for Shahed drones. In December and November 2025, the USF attacked the drone storage facilities at the airport.
The Donetsk airport ceased its operations in May 2014, after the start of the Russian occupation in parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
T.D.