Ukrainian Drone Crew Hits Four Russian Grad Rocket Launchers in One Mission, One 45 Km Away

A Ukrainian drone crew destroyed two Russian BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers and damaged two more during a single deployment, with one of the strikes carried out after a 45-kilometer drone flight.

According to Ukraine’s 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade on September 14, the operation was conducted by a crew from the Perun Unmanned Systems Battalion. The crew commander, who uses the call sign “Zhulyk,” said the four Grad systems were the first targets of this type struck by the battalion.

“During this operation, our crew destroyed two Grads and hit two more. These were the first Grads in our battalion. We set every record we could: both for time spent on position and for range. We flew 45 kilometers and struck the target,” Zhulyk said.

The brigade did not disclose the exact location of the strikes or specify what type of drone was used.

The crew remained at its position for 60 days, conducting operations during both daytime and nighttime. Its personnel included an FPV pilot, an explosives specialist, a navigator, and other members responsible for supporting long-range drone missions.

Zhulyk said the crew operated continuously because each member had a separate role and there was no replacement team available.

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“We have a 24/7 workload. We work at night, we work during the day. There is no rotation where one person flies while someone else sleeps—there is nothing like that. Everyone has their own job,” he said.

According to the brigade, reaching and leaving the position presented an additional challenge because Russian forces were also conducting aerial reconnaissance in search of Ukrainian drone teams. The crew reached the position in roughly half a day, while leaving it after the two-month deployment took nearly two days and required stops along the route.

The BM-21 Grad is a truck-mounted 122mm multiple launch rocket system originally developed by the Soviet Union and remains widely used by Russian forces for battlefield fire support.

Earlier, on September 11, Ukrainian forces destroyed a rare North Korean Type-75 multiple-launch rocket system deployed by Russia, according to Ukraine’s 40th Separate Artillery Brigade. The launcher, which carries 12 rocket tubes, was located and then struck directly by a Ukrainian drone.

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