Russia’s elite drone unit targets Ukraine’s HIMARS launchers
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An elite Russian drone unit destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS launcher near Chasiv Yar using a fibre-optic FPV drone, marking a significant blow to Ukraine’s capabilities.
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Ukrainian servicemen prepare the drone "Kazhan" that delivers supplies and carries heavy bombs, on the front line near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 15, 2025. (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade via AP)
An elite Russian drone unit has reportedly destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS launcher near the front line in Donetsk, marking a significant blow to Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
The attack took place just 10 kilometers from Chasiv Yar and was executed using a fibre-optic first-person view (FPV) drone, an emerging technology in Russian drone warfare.
Footage captured the moment the HIMARS system was spotted moving along a dirt road outside Chasiv Yar. The feed from a Russian UAV closed in before cutting out, followed by separate footage showing a powerful explosion that confirmed the destruction.
According to The Telegraph, the launcher’s location, so close to the front, was notable, as these systems typically operate deep behind Ukrainian lines. Its proximity suggests it was likely attempting to strike a target well within Russian territory.
With this latest strike, at least four of the approximately 40 HIMARS systems supplied by Washington have now been lost. These launchers have played a vital role in disrupting Russian logistics and command infrastructure, The Telegraph wrote.
Russia’s Rubicon drone unit and evolving tactics
The operation was attributed to Rubicon, an elite Russian drone warfare unit established in October 2024 under the direction of Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
This latest strike differs from past losses of HIMARS systems, which were typically hit by missile or artillery fire. Instead, Rubicon reportedly used a fibre-optic FPV drone, a design that bypasses electronic jamming systems by remaining physically tethered to its operator through a nearly invisible cable.
"Fibre optic cables are basically impossible to jam," Tom Withington, a weapons expert at Rusi, told The Telegraph, adding that “They’re the width of a human hair and extremely difficult to detect.”
The use of fiber-optic drones to destroy a HIMARS marks a dangerous shift, bypassing Ukrainian EW systems and exposing once-secure assets.
Rubicon’s tactics have already shown a devastating impact. During the Kursk operation, the unit launched multi-angle ambushes and embedded drones in roads, reportedly neutralizing hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles, including M2 Bradleys and MaxxPros.
Its redeployment to target US-supplied missile systems marks a strategic pivot, from disrupting logistics to systematically dismantling Ukraine’s most advanced and vital battlefield capabilities.
Ukraine’s strategic dilemma
The loss of HIMARS systems carries significant psychological and military weight, as they’ve symbolized Western backing and played a key role in past Ukrainian advances, like in Kherson. With stockpiles shrinking and no clear commitment from a potential Trump administration to resupply, Ukraine faces mounting vulnerability.
“The uptake will just continue until a meaningful counter is developed,” Withington warned, noting the parallels to Cold War-era use of wire-guided munitions in Europe, The Telegraph noted.
As Russian drone warfare evolves, the ability of Ukrainian forces to adapt may determine the future balance on the battlefield.
