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

https://mins.news/en/item/64682

- The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-18 17:53 UTC
- World
- Original: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-elite-russian-drone-unit-pulls-back-from-northern-donetsk-oblast-amid-ukrainian-offensive/

> Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps says Russia withdrew its elite Rubicon unmanned-systems unit from northern Donetsk Oblast after heavy losses during Ukraine’s ongoing Operation Vivaldi. Reuters reports that Russia is increasingly firing repurposed S-400 training missiles at Ukrainian cities. Voting in Sochi’s State Duma election was also suspended over a reported Ukrainian drone threat.

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