Ukraine Declares Occupied Luhansk Routes Under Ukrainian Drone Control

The 3rd Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has launched a highly coordinated aerial campaign aimed at paralyzing Russian military supply lines across the occupied Luhansk region, demonstrating an expanded long-range strike capability by hitting targets directly on the Russian border.

Striking the Russian border transit hub

During the high-tempo operation, pilots from the corps’ dedicated unmanned systems battalion successfully bypassed regional electronic warfare umbrellas to deliver precision strikes against concentrated Russian military assets, neutralizing armored vehicles and dismantling active forward ammunition depots.

Most notably, Ukrainian strike drones managed to penetrate more than 205 kilometers deep into the Russian-occupied enclave to hit military logistics infrastructure at the Izvaryne border checkpoint. Located on the international border between Ukraine’s Luhansk region and Russia’s Rostov region, Izvaryne serves as a primary logistical artery for funneling heavy armor, fresh ammunition, and regular troops from mainland Russia directly to the Donbas frontlines.

Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, the commander of the 3rd Army Corps, framed the deep-strike campaign as a direct response to the Kremlin’s triumphalist claims.

“In response to the enemy’s statements about the complete capture of the Luhansk region, we announce an operation to control logistical routes in the Luhansk region and Eastern Slobozhanshchyna,” Brigadier General Biletsky emphasized. “Luhansk, Starobilsk, Alchevsk, Bryanka, Kadiivka are now under the control of the UAVs of the Third Army Corps.”

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Led by a legendary Mariupol defender

The deep-strike operation was entirely planned and spearheaded by a specialized strike UAV platoon commander, a native of the Luhansk region who operates under the military callsign “Skhid” (East).

According to biographical details shared by the 3rd Army Corps, Skhid possesses extensive elite combat experience. In the spring of 2022, during the opening months of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he participated in a high-stakes helicopter air-garrison operation, successfully deploying via a low-altitude air insertion directly into the completely encircled city of Mariupol to reinforce the defenders trapped inside the Azovstal steel plant.

Following the conclusion of the grueling siege of the maritime stronghold, Skhid managed to evade Russian capture. He successfully navigated through occupied territory entirely on his own to safely cross the frontlines back into Ukrainian-controlled soil.

For his battlefield actions and evasion, he was subsequently awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, receiving the title of Hero of Ukraine. Returning to the ranks to command next-generation drone teams, Skhid is now leveraging his localized knowledge of his native Luhansk region to systematically strip the Russian occupying army of its safe havens.