Ukrainian Drone Forces Wipe Out 44 Russian Drone Launch Sites In 24 Hours

Ukrainian units of the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 1,224 Russian military targets over the past 24 hours, including dozens of drone launch positions, according to an official update released on February 18.

According to the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a morning statement on February 18, the strikes targeted personnel, artillery systems, vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles used by Russian forces.

The Unmanned Systems Forces reported that among the targets hit were 314 Russian service members, of whom 167 were killed. Ukrainian drone units also struck 44 drone launch points, 20 artillery systems, 67 vehicles, and 28 motorcycles. In addition, 121 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles of both “copter” and fixed-wing types were destroyed or damaged.

“Overall, throughout February (01–17.02), 16,256 targets have been destroyed or hit, including 5,002 enemy personnel,” the Unmanned Systems Forces stated in their update.

According to the Unmanned Systems Forces, from February 1 to February 17, Ukrainian drone units have struck or destroyed a total of 16,256 Russian targets. Of these, 5,002 were personnel.

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War in Ukraine

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The Unmanned Systems Forces, established as a separate branch of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, coordinate drone operations across multiple sectors of the front line. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly emphasized the growing role of unmanned systems in countering Russia’s numerical advantages in manpower and equipment.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reported striking a storage site for an Iskander missile system in occupied Crimea and destroying a remote piloting post of the Russian “Rubikon” unit in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region.

According to the Special Operations Forces, the attacks were carried out using FP-2 drones against Russian rear and operational infrastructure in temporarily occupied territory.

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