Russian elite drone unit hits US-made armoured vehicle and Ukrainian positions in Donbas
World
Russia releases new footage showing FPV drone strikes by its Rubicon unit on Ukrainian armoured vehicles and military targets near Krasny Liman in Donbas.
MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman) – Russia’s Ministry of Defence has released new video footage showing FPV drone strikes on Ukrainian military targets in the Donbas region, including US-made armoured vehicles and fortified positions.
According to the ministry, the attacks were carried out by the elite Rubicon drone unit in the outskirts of Krasny Liman, an area within the Donetsk People’s Republic. The location lies north-east of Slovyansk, which is regarded as a key logistics hub for Ukrainian forces operating in the eastern theatre of the conflict.
The footage shows Russian FPV drones hitting a US-manufactured HMMWV (Humvee) armoured vehicle, a tank, Ukrainian field fortifications, and military robotic systems deployed on the battlefield. The strikes appear to be conducted with precision-guided drones designed for close-range attacks, a method that has become increasingly prominent in the conflict.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the Rubicon unit was established in 2024 on the orders of Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. The unit specialises in experimental drone technologies and artificial intelligence, which, according to the ministry, allows Russian forces to conduct low-cost but highly effective operations against high-value targets.
The growing role of Rubicon has also been highlighted in Western media. Last year, Forbes described the unit as “one of the most effective forces on the front line”, reporting that its operations had significantly disrupted Ukrainian logistics. The magazine said Ukrainian troops were facing acute shortages of trucks, pick-up vehicles and armoured transporters as a result of sustained drone strikes on supply routes and transport columns.
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Military analysts say the latest phase of the conflict has seen a rapid shift towards fibre-optic guided FPV drones, which are increasingly replacing conventional radio-controlled systems. These newer drones are considered more resistant to electronic jamming, a key feature in a battlefield environment where both sides rely heavily on electronic warfare to interfere with communications and targeting.
The newly released video highlights the expanding use of such technologies in the Donbas theatre, where both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to compete for control of strategic supply lines and operational positions.
