# Ukraine says Russia withdrew elite drone unit from northern Donetsk after heavy losses

https://mins.news/en/item/64562

- The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-18 16:13 UTC
- World
- Original: https://kyivindependent.com/russia-pulls-elite-drone-unit-from-northern-donetsk-oblast-after-losses-from-operation-vivaldi-military-says/

> Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps says Russia withdrew its elite Rubicon unmanned-systems unit from the northern Donetsk front after heavy losses during the ongoing Operation Vivaldi. The corps said it destroyed command, logistics and drone-launch assets, and reported clearing 75 square kilometers of infiltrators and liberating another 10 square kilometers around Lyman.

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