Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) struck the logistics base of Russia's classified drone center Rubikon in occupied Manhush, Donetsk Oblast, overnight on 16-17 April, the SSO reported. Explosions and large fires broke out at the facility. Footage filmed from a vehicle passing by the burning facility confirmed a large-scale blaze at the site.
Strike on Rubikon's Manhush logistics base
According to the report, SSO Middle-strike drone units conducted multiple strikes on enemy targets at the facility. Thermal footage released by the SSO showed its drones targeting not only the building, but also tractor trucks with low-bed trailers at the site.
Rubikon uses against Ukraine's forces nearly all Russian attack and reconnaissance drone types except Shaheds and Herberas, the SSO noted. The center's arsenal includes standard and fiber-optic FPV drones, Molniia and Lancet strike systems, ZALA, Orlan, and SuperCam reconnaissance UAVs, and maritime drones.
Striking and destroying enemy logistics centers significantly reduces their combat capability, the SSO says.
"The SSO continues asymmetric actions to strategically weaken the enemy's ability to wage war against Ukraine," the report said.
The Manhush strike is at least the third SSO hit on Rubikon infrastructure in 2026. In March, Ukrainian drones struck Rubikon positions in occupied areas of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. On 18 March, the SSO struck a Rubikon base in occupied Donetsk Oblast together with a coordination center supporting the unit.
What Rubikon is
Rubikon is a classified Russian center for advanced unmanned technologies, established in August 2024 by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. The center has around 5,000 personnel. Its mission includes training UAV instructors, transferring combat experience to frontline units, and disrupting Ukrainian logistics and drone command teams. Russian military intelligence is directly involved in organizing the unit.
In March 2026, Rubikon claimed it had exceeded its previous November 2025 record strike rate by over 40% and hit 5.7 times more targets than it did in March 2025. One Ukrainian brigade reportedly lost 70% of its drone operators in a single week to Rubikon's precision strikes.
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