Ukrainian defense forces have destroyed or damaged nearly half of the Russian drone pilot positions identified along the Zaporizhzhia frontline, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense.

Dronocide operation targets Russian drone pilots

HUR stated that Ukrainian units located 90 positions and residential locations used by Russian operators of strike and reconnaissance drones along the Zaporizhzhia front. Of those, 42 sites have been destroyed or damaged, according to the report.

The effort is part of a comprehensive counter-drone operation code-named Dronocide, focused on targeting and eliminating Russian UAV operator infrastructure.

The campaign is being executed by the Department of Active Operations of HUR, the Air Force Command, the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Zakarpattia Brigade, the 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, the Flight Skull unit from the Drone Systems Forces, and the Operational-Tactical Grouping of Forces Zaporizhzhia along with the Operational-Strategic Grouping Tavria.

Month-long campaign shows results

The Dronocide operation has evolved into what HUR described as a “month of annihilation” for Russian drone pilots. Coordinated Ukrainian forces have launched precision strikes on positions housing enemy drone crews, eliminating threats to Ukrainian front-line troops and infrastructure.

HUR released dramatic video footage showing the moments Russian positions were “turned into molecules” during some of the targeted bomb and drone strikes.