Ukrainian drones destroy Russian An-72 aircraft and heavy drone training base in Crimea

Oleksandr Shumilin - 2 April, 16:42

A target. Screenshot from the video

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, together with Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), have destroyed a training base for Orion heavy UAVs, an An-72P transport aircraft and a Mech radar system in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Source: Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces

Quote: "On the night of 1-2 April 2026, birds [drones – ed.] of the 1st Separate Centre of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the 9th Department of DIU paid a courtesy visit to the base and pre-flight training point of the latest and high-value Orion strike-reconnaissance UAVs.

This den was completely destroyed at Kirovske airfield near Krasnosilske, Crimea. The destruction of four Orion UAVs has been confirmed.

The Orion is a Russian reconnaissance and strike UAV that can remain airborne for up to 24 hours, has an operational range of up to 250 km, and can carry up to 200 kg of payload. The cost of a single unit exceeds US$5 million.

An An-72P transport aircraft and a Soviet-era P-37 Mech mobile two-coordinate circular-scan radar station were also detected and destroyed there."

An An-72P

Details: Brovdi released video footage of the strikes and descriptions of the targets' characteristics. The Unmanned Systems Forces carried out the attacks using Ukrainian-made FP-2 middle-strike systems equipped with a 60-100 kg warhead.

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