The Rubikon Center, the Russian Ministry of Defense's drone and UAV operating unit, reported that their Zala UAV spotted a Ukrainian UAV launch site and ammunition depot near the settlement of Novodonetske, Donetsk, on the morning of 18/8.

Rubikon then relayed the target coordinates to a missile unit of Russia's Central Military District. Footage shows an Iskander-M missile releasing cluster munitions, resulting in explosions and fires. According to Rubikon, the strike "destroyed all targets in the area".

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated the strike occurred near the village of Iverskoye, adjacent to Novodonetske in Donetsk. The ministry claims the attack destroyed 100 UJ-22 long-range fixed-wing UAVs, Palianytsia missile-UAV hybrids, 16 transport vehicles, and resulted in 40 Ukrainian soldiers and technicians killed or wounded.

Ukraine has not yet commented on this information.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported a Russian attack involving 140 suicide drones and decoy aircraft, along with 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, targeting various areas including Donetsk. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 52 UAVs but none of the Iskander-M missiles.

Russia has repeatedly launched Iskander-M missiles at Ukrainian air defense positions, training grounds, command posts, and key defense facilities, causing significant damage. Western experts suggest the Patriot system is virtually the only air defense system Ukraine possesses capable of countering the Iskander-M.

However, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently assessed that Patriot systems are increasingly struggling to intercept Iskander-Ms due to Russian upgrades.

Ukraine's Patriot interception rate against Iskander-Ms has also reportedly decreased due to dwindling missile supplies and a shortage of launchers following Russian strikes.

Location of Iverskoye and Novodonetske, Donetsk. Graphics: RYV

Nguyen Tien (Zvezda, RIA Novosti, AP)