Ukraine's Big Boom Drones Blasted A Russian Base, Reportedly Taking Out 125 Commandos
The Berdyans’ke raid may be one of the bloodiest of the war
Ukrainian drones blew up a Russian commando base in Berdyans’ke, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast overnight between Dec. 27 and 28—and killed or wounded 125 Russians, according to the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces.
If confirmed, it would be one of the worst single-strike losses for Russian forces since Russia widened its war on Ukraine in February 2022. The worst confirmed loss so far occurred on Dec. 31, 2022, when a Ukrainian army High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher struck a Russian garrison in Makiivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, killing or wounding hundreds.
The difference between the Makiivka strike and the Berdyans’ke strike is depth. Makiivka was, at the time, barely five miles from the front line. Today, Berdyans’ke is 50 miles from the front line, which has moved tens of miles to west since late 2022.
It’s apparent, from the drones’ video feeds—helpfully posted online by the USF—that the Berdyans’ke strike involved Fire Point FP-1 or FP-2 one-way attack drones. Probably FP-2s, considering the evident damage.
