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Ukraine Blasts Russian Shahed Drone Base at Donetsk Airport With US ATACMS Missiles
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian forces conducted a high-precision strike against a strategic Russian drone facility at the Donetsk International Airport on the morning of March 7.
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According to official statements from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the operation targeted a specialized hub used for the storage, preparation, and launching of Shahed-type loitering munitions.
The assault was a coordinated effort involving the Missile Forces and Artillery of the Ground Forces alongside the Ukrainian Air Force.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed via Telegram that the strike utilized a combination of US-provided ATACMS ballistic missiles and French-British SCALP cruise missiles.
Local reports and footage shared by the “Typichny Donetsk” Telegram channel indicated the strike occurred at approximately 07:30. Following the impact, a large plume of black smoke was visible over the airfield.
“In the area of the Donetsk airport, ATACMS and SCALP missiles today hit a storage, preparation, and launch site for enemy 'Shahed' type strike UAVs,” the General Staff stated.
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The military confirmed that the strike resulted in a large-scale fire and secondary detonation, suggesting the successful hit of stored explosives or fueled drones. Beyond the primary target in Donetsk, Ukrainian defense forces executed a series of additional strikes overnight.
These operations spanned multiple occupied regions, including the destruction of a Russian UAV control point near Dibrova in the Luhansk region and a strike on a command and observation post in the area of Kruhlyakivka in the Kharkiv region.
The General Staff also reported targeted fire on artillery positions and troop concentrations near Tavilzhanka, Voskresenka, Novopavlivka, Novohryhorivka, and Zaliznychne. The infrastructure at Donetsk Airport has been a focal point for Russian drone operations for several months.
According to intelligence reports, specialized storage hangars and manual control points for Shahed and “Gerbera” drones were identified at the site in August 2025.
This is not the first time the facility has been targeted. Earlier, in November 2025, Ukrainian forces conducted a similar operation at the airport, which reportedly resulted in the destruction of approximately 1,000 Shahed drones and associated launching equipment. The March 7 strike represents a continued effort to degrade Russia’s ability to launch long-range aerial attacks from occupied territories.
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