Ukrainian special forces say they have struck members of Russia's notorious Rubikon drone unit in occupied Zaporizhzhia, killing three UAV operators accused of carrying out repeated attacks on civilians. The operation marks the latest in a series of targeted strikes against Russian drone specialists as Kyiv intensifies efforts to disrupt Moscow's expanding unmanned warfare campaign. Targeted Strike Behind Enemy Lines According to a source within the Budanov Units, the attack took place at around 10am on July 23 in the occupied city of Dniprorudne, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. The source said operatives remotely detonated a high-explosive charge, killing three Rubikon drone pilots and injuring a fourth. Ukrainian officials described the unit as being responsible for prolonged drone attacks against civilians in the region. "This crew had been terrorising civilians of Zaporizhzhia for a long time through indiscriminate drone attacks," the unit said, adding that "retribution has reached them". Campaign Against Elite Drone Operators The reported strike forms part of a broader Ukrainian effort to eliminate key personnel linked to Russia's drone operations. In recent days, Ukrainian sources also claimed responsibility for killing Russian serviceman Roman Vnukov, known by the callsign "Batman", in occupied Zaporizhzhia. They also reported the death of military engineer Andrey Tisarev, who was involved in supporting Russia's military campaign. Pressure Mounts on Rubikon Network Rubikon has repeatedly featured in Ukrainian operations targeting Russian drone infrastructure. In March, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces said they struck a secret Rubikon drone technology centre in occupied Donetsk using long-range drones. Earlier, in February, Ukrainian forces reported hitting several Russian military sites, including a drone command post linked to the Rubikon network. Ukrainian intelligence has also claimed that some Russian personnel who received covert training in China may have included operators from the elite Rubikon unit, underlining concerns over the continued evolution of Moscow's drone capabilities. The latest reported strike highlights Kyiv's strategy of targeting experienced drone operators and command structures, aiming to weaken Russia's ability to sustain precision attacks deep behind the front line as the war increasingly hinges on unmanned technology. Ukrainian special forces strike notorious Russian Rubikon drone unit
