Ukraine hits Russian drone-launch airfields in Primorsko-Akhtarsk, occupied Donetsk, HUR says

Ukrainian forces launched targeted strikes on airfields in Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Russian-occupied Donetsk on August 20, according to Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR). The strikes aimed at disrupting Russian long-range drone launches, targeting storage and launch sites, as well as two radar systems, the 55Zh6U Nebo-U and 55Zh6UM Niobiy.

The assaults resulted in damage to ground components and drone launchers, along with the ignition of fires at the attack sites. HUR highlighted that these operations constituted part of Ukraine's deep-strike strategy, emphasizing the intensification of attacks on military and industrial targets in Russia and Russian-occupied territories.

Primorsko-Akhtarsk, situated in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, roughly 130 kilometers from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast across the Sea of Azov, has historically served as a launch point for Russian drone assaults due to its proximity to Ukraine. Russian forces also employ drone-launch sites in Ukrainian territories they occupy, including the industrial hub of Donetsk, home to around 950,000 residents prior to the conflict.

The city's Donetsk International Airport has been equipped with drone launchers for training and launching various drone models, such as Shahed, Geran, and Gerbera. Recent satellite imagery from August 2025 revealed runway repairs that might enable Russia to augment drone operations from the occupied territory. In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up drone and ballistic missile strikes against Ukrainian cities, exacerbating Ukraine's critical air defense scarcity.

On August 20, Russia launched an attack against Kyiv and its surroundings, resulting in 15 deaths and nearly 40 injuries, including damage to a children's hospital.