- Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck Russian Gerbera drone launch crews and systems at the moment of launch near the former Donetsk airport, according to released footage and OSINT analysis.
- The targeted Gerbera UAV is a low-cost variant of the Shahed-136 used by Russia for strike operations, and the attack aimed to prevent drones from reaching Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine’s 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released footage showing a strike on Russian drone operators and launch systems identified as “Gerbera.”
The unit said the attack was conducted before the drones could be launched toward Ukrainian cities.
The strike appears aimed at intercepting drone attacks at their source, as Russian forces continue to rely on one-way attack drones against urban areas. By targeting launch crews and equipment prior to takeoff, Ukrainian forces are seeking to reduce the number of drones entering Ukrainian airspace and limit the burden on air defense systems.
In an official statement, the unit said: “The 1st Separate Center of the SBS [Unmanned Systems Forces] (14th Regiment) guards your sleep. Especially the one where Russia is burning — such dreams must not be interrupted.” The statement added: “We know how difficult this week has been. The enemy again strikes peaceful people and cities in broad daylight — destroying Ukrainian dreams, killing our people.”
The unit further stated: “But for every such strike there will be a response a hundred times stronger.” It continued: “Retribution did not take long. We stopped the enemy even before the ‘Shaheds’ took to the sky. Now fewer drones will fly to our cities, where air raid sirens will not sound.” The statement concluded: “Sleep peacefully. We are working so that you wake up in a safe country.”
According to open-source intelligence group CyberBoroshno, the launch site targeted in the strike was geolocated to the area of the former Donetsk International Airport, a long-contested site in eastern Ukraine now under Russian control. The identification is based on terrain features and visual analysis of the released footage.
The “Gerbera” system referenced in the footage is a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle used in military operations against Ukraine. It is described as a simplified and lower-cost variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 loitering munition, which Russia operates under the designation “Geran-2.” Recent reports indicate that some of these drones have been fitted with an additional explosive charge intended to increase damage at the point of impact.
Targeting drone operators and launch infrastructure represents a shift toward countering threats before they enter contested airspace. Instead of relying solely on air defense systems to intercept incoming drones, strikes on launch sites aim to disrupt the attack cycle at its earliest stage.
This approach can reduce the burden on air defense networks, which are often tasked with tracking and engaging multiple low-cost aerial targets simultaneously. By eliminating launch crews and equipment, Ukrainian forces can potentially limit the volume of incoming drones in a given attack wave.