Russian Drones Strike Ukraine’s HIMARS Launcher In War’s First: Video

A Russian drone unit destroyed one of Ukraine’s U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers close to the front line in the Donetsk region, a video appears to show.

Russia’s elite drone group, Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Technologies, claimed responsibility for the strike. It said it destroyed the HIMARS system near the village of Rusyn Yar, around 18 miles from the front line.

Newsweek has contacted Ukraine’s defense ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

If confirmed, it would mark the first known instance of a Russian first-person-view (FPV) drone successfully taking out one of Ukraine’s HIMARS since the start of the war in February 2022.

Ukraine’s military has frequently used the weapons, often targeting Russia’s most advanced anti-aircraft missile systems and command posts.

What To Know

In a post on Telegram, Russia’s Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Technologies wrote: “Donetsk direction. 30 km from the front line, the Rubicon combat groups discovered and destroyed the HIMARS.”

A video included in the post showed the system engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Newsweek has not been able to independently verify the video. Russian and Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

Ukraine has deployed HIMARS across several fronts, particularly in Donetsk and Luhansk — two regions largely under Russian occupation.

The Kremlin has been pushing for the total capture of the two regions since Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

The U.S. has delivered at least 39 HIMARS units to Ukraine since the start of the war. They have been been credited with enabling Kyiv to inflict significant losses on Russian military assets.

Russia established its dedicated drone warfare unit in August 2024 under the directive of Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. According to the defense ministry, the unit trains highly skilled instructors selected from drone specialists within military units and formations.

What Happens Next

Fighting in Donetsk is expected to intensify as Russian forces continue their push to seize full control of the region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia intends to go ahead with plans for a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine between May 8 and 11.

But he said that “should the Kyiv regime fail to do the same and should it continue trying to strike our positions and facilities, then an appropriate response will be given immediately.”