Ukraine war latest: Elite Russian drone unit pulls back from northern Donetsk Oblast amid Ukrainian offensive

On September 18, Russian forces withdrew their elite Rubicon drone unit from the northern Donetsk Oblast following heavy losses in Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi, according to Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps. The unit, responsible for cutting off logistics and intercepting Ukrainian drone teams, suffered substantial casualties among its personnel and equipment.

The withdrawal may be attributed to the rapid decline in the unit's combat effectiveness. Simultaneously, Russia has been utilizing repurposed S-400 training missiles against Ukrainian cities, with 87 such missiles fired in July, compared to 10 in June and 14 in May. These missiles, while less accurate than purpose-built ballistic missiles, still pose a significant threat to Ukrainian infrastructure.

The conflict has reached a point where Russia has even suspended the voting process in the Black Sea city of Sochi due to the threat of a Ukrainian drone attack, moving election-related activities to shelters until the threat subsides. As Russia embarks on its three-day parliamentary elections, the Kremlin uses these polls to gauge public support for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has established a recruitment center for foreign volunteers in the National Guard, aiming to bolster the force's capabilities and accelerate reinforcements.