Ukraine Destroys Russian Rubikon Drone Base In Pokrovsk

Drone operators from Ukraine's 7th Corps, deployed in the Pokrovsk sector, identified and destroyed a Russian drone base, killing a number of Russian crews and some instructors from the Kremlin's most effective 'Rubikon' unit. 

The successful targeting of such facilities is a significant loss to the Russians, whose drone resources and capabilities trail those of Ukraine. JL

Ukrinform reports:

Ukrainian drone operators from the 7th Corps, deployed in the Pokrovsk sector, destroyed high-rise building in the ‘Lazurnyi’ neighborhood, which the Russians had long used as a base for pilots. Additionally, there were also instructors from the ‘Rubicon’ center present, who were training UAV crews. "This was confirmed among enemy units stationed in this neighborhood.” The Russians were storing ammunition—including toxic chemicals—in one of the buildings. “As a result of the strike, the enemy two UAV crew operating posts, a communications node, ammunition stocks, and up to 10–15 personnel,”

Defense forces carried out an airstrike on a neighborhood in Pokrovsk, where Russian instructors from the “Rubicon” center were observed training UAV crews.

According to Ukrinform, the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook and released a video of the operation.

“A destroyed high-rise building in the ‘Lazurnyi’ neighborhood, which the Russian Federation had long used as a base for pilots. Additionally, the presence of instructors from the ‘Rubicon’ center, who were training UAV crews, was confirmed among enemy units stationed in this neighborhood,” the statement reads.

In addition, the Air Force noted that, according to available information, the enemy was storing ammunition—including toxic chemicals—in one of the buildings.

“As a result of the strike, the enemy lost up to two UAV crew operating posts, a communications node, ammunition stocks, and up to 10–15 personnel,” the 7th Corps of the Airborne Forces stated.

Prior to striking the target, the reconnaissance unit of the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Airborne Forces conducted a detailed survey of the area where Russian forces were concentrated. Analysis of the location, in particular, revealed round-the-clock activity: the continuous operation of aerial reconnaissance units. It also revealed the use of Wi-Fi bridges, routers, antennas, and Starlink terminals to coordinate and control drones.

As noted by the Airborne Forces, for quite some time the enemy has been choosing the southern part of the city as one of its priority locations for concentrating personnel, particularly UAV pilots.

Read also: Russia's war casualty toll in Ukraine up by 1,290 over past day

“In this way, the enemy hopes to reduce the risk of FPV drone strikes by the Ukrainian military in the 7th Corps’ area of responsibility, as well as to simplify logistics. These areas are adjacent to roads connecting Pokrovsk with other major settlements behind enemy lines,” the Airborne Forces commented.

As reported by Ukrinform, in June 2026, the Defense Forces struck more than 200,000 Russian targets, and the intensity of strikes on targets in the temporarily occupied Crimea increased.