🇺🇦🇷🇺 A wave of overnight Ukrainian drone and missile attacks struck Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, with some reports alleging a direct hit on the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army in Donetsk. According to Ukrainian OSINT group Dnipro and Telegram channel Supernova+, British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles were used to target the building—formerly the Donetsk State Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals—now believed to house Russian military leadership.
Russian-backed authorities confirmed widespread destruction, including civilian casualties. One woman was reportedly killed and several others injured after strikes damaged a clinic, pharmacy, dormitories, and residential buildings. The Sokol market and several key city structures were also impacted. Reports described a scene of chaos: “the dead are being carried out in groups,” stated Ukrainian sources—though this has not been independently verified.
In Horlivka, a local bank was hit, injuring at least one civilian. Meanwhile, over 26 strikes were reported across Donetsk using drones, long-range missiles, and artillery. The city of Luhansk was also targeted with over 20 drones, resulting in multiple fires and the imposition of elevated security measures in towns like Krasny Luch and Lutuhyne.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its air defense systems shot down 60 drones, most over Crimea and Rostov. However, it remained silent on the reported missile hits in Donetsk or the alleged military casualties.
This marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s deep strike campaign, directly targeting Russia’s command centers in occupied territories using Western-supplied precision munitions like the Storm Shadow.
