Ukraine Just Launched a Cruise Missile Barrage at That Russian Tank Army Massing in Donetsk

Waves of missiles and drones blasted a factory in Donetsk the Russians use as a staging base

Russia is massing troops and tanks around the besieged fortress city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, building up heavy forces for what Ukrainian drone operator Kriegsforscher described as a “last, final battle” for the east.

But Ukraine isn’t just waiting around for Russia to attack. While the Ukrainian ground forces surge reserves into the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian air force, drone branch and special services are bombarding the gathering Russian troops with drones and cruise missiles.

On Monday, the Ukrainians targeted the defunct Topaz metal plant on the eastern edge of Donetsk City, 30 miles southeast of Pokrovsk. The plant is well-known as a staging base for Russian forces moving toward the Donetsk front line.

A barrage of aerial munitions pummeled Topaz. Photos and videos from the plant confirmed no fewer than three different types of munitions. It seems the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces or special services struck Topaz with propeller-driven An-196 and, potentially, Morok attack drones, while the air force launched locally made Bars or Peklo cruise missiles as well as British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The missiles and drones zoomed in one after another, in quick succession. How much damage they inflicted is unclear, but it may be significant.