Ukraine Strikes Russian Drone Hub At Donetsk Airport With French SCALP Missiles

Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes targeting Russian unmanned aerial vehicle storage facilities near Donetsk Airport overnight on April 14, using SCALP cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on April 14, the operation was conducted by units of the Ukrainian Air Force as part of efforts to reduce Russia’s offensive capabilities. The strikes targeted locations used for the storage of attack UAVs in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region.

In addition to the use of SCALP cruise missiles, Ukrainian forces deployed GBU-39 guided aerial bombs. Strike drones were also used to hit Russian logistics nodes and ammunition depots across multiple frontline areas. According to the General Staff, confirmed impacts were recorded near Azovske in the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as in Urzuf and Kulykivske in the Donetsk region.

The strike follows earlier Ukrainian operations targeting drone infrastructure. On March 7, Ukrainian forces used SCALP cruise missiles alongside ATACMS ballistic missiles to hit facilities linked to the storage, preparation, and launch of Russian attack UAVs at Donetsk Airport.

SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée), also known as Storm Shadow in its British designation, is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile supplied to Ukraine by France and the United Kingdom.

The system is designed for precision strikes against high-value targets such as command centers, ammunition depots, and hardened infrastructure. It has a reported range exceeding 250 kilometers and uses terrain-following navigation combined with infrared guidance in the terminal phase to improve accuracy.

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War in Ukraine

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Ukraine began using SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles in 2023, primarily deploying them from modified Su-24M aircraft. Since then, the missiles have been used in strikes against Russian military infrastructure in occupied territories, including airfields, logistics hubs, and naval assets.

The system is considered a key component of Ukraine’s long-range strike capability, enabling attacks beyond the frontline while reducing reliance on more limited-range systems.

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