- Ukraine's military intelligence claimed responsibility for a special operation targeting Russian troops in Stavropol on October 22.
- GUR said the strike killed at least three soldiers from Russia’s 247th Airborne Regiment at Military Unit No. 54801.
A Ukrainian special operation has targeted Russian troops stationed in the city of Stavropol, deep inside the Russian Federation, resulting in the elimination of at least three servicemen from the Russian Airborne Forces.
The strike took place near Military Unit No. 54801, located at 533 Serova Street in central Stavropol, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
On October 22, Russian media reported an explosion near a military facility in Stavropol, a city in southern Russia. Initial coverage from pro-Kremlin outlets claimed the blast occurred at a bus stop and left a civilian woman injured. However, shortly after the reports surfaced, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) released evidence contradicting the Russian narrative.
According to GUR, the operation was a deliberate action conducted with support from the Caucasus Liberation Movement. In a statement, Ukrainian military intelligence said the strike resulted in the deaths of “at least three servicemen of the 247th Caucasian Cossack Airborne Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces.”
The 247th regiment has been actively involved in combat operations against Ukraine since 2014 and, according to Ukrainian officials, played a role in numerous war crimes committed during Russia’s full-scale invasion beginning in 2022. The GUR emphasized that the attack was not accidental and directly targeted individuals responsible for such actions. “GUR MO of Ukraine reminds: there will be just retribution for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people,” the agency said.
The strike occurred near the main checkpoint of the base, not far from a residential area, prompting a swift response from Russian law enforcement. Russian authorities cordoned off the site, but made no official confirmation regarding military casualties. Russian state media focused only on the civilian injury, downplaying any reference to the military installation that appeared to be the actual target.
Ukrainian intelligence released video footage allegedly showing the moment of the attack and a radio intercept that reportedly confirms the casualties among Russian personnel. The agency did not disclose the method of attack but described the outcome as a successful joint operation carried out with precision coordination.
The presence of the 247th regiment in Stavropol has long been known. This airborne unit is considered a key element in Russia’s rapid deployment forces and was previously deployed to Ukraine’s eastern regions, including Luhansk and Donetsk, as well as during the 2022 offensive against the Mykolaiv and Kherson fronts.
Ukrainian officials view the operation as part of a broader strategy to target Russian military units responsible for frontline atrocities, even if they are located far from active combat zones. The GUR did not state whether similar missions were underway or planned, but described the event as a clear message to Russian forces.
“The special operation was conducted in coordination with local resistance forces,” Ukrainian intelligence said in its release. The Caucasus Liberation Movement has been previously linked to opposition activity inside Russia’s southern regions, although little verified information is publicly available about its size or structure.
Operations like the one in Stavropol are intended to demonstrate that Russian military personnel involved in the war are not immune from consequences, regardless of location.
The full details of the strike remain classified, but the GUR’s release appears to challenge the Kremlin’s ability to control the narrative surrounding attacks inside its own territory. Ukrainian intelligence framed the incident as part of an ongoing effort to impose accountability on Russian forces through direct action.