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On the night of September 22-23, 2025, the conflicting parties exchanged strikes using unmanned aerial vehicles. According to reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense, 69 Ukrainian drones were shot down over its territory overnight (with another 92 during the day). In response, 115 UAVs of the “Geran” and “Gerbera” types, as well as three “Iskander-M” missiles, were launched at Ukraine during the night. The number of drones launched at Ukraine during the day remains unknown.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that “in response to a terrorist strike against civilian targets on the territory of Foros (Republic of Crimea) that killed and injured civilians, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a group strike against temporary deployment areas of the AFU special operations and foreign mercenaries of the Prizraki detachment (Ghosts) near Tatarbunary and Rasseyka (Odessa region), which prepared and carried out this terrorist attack.”
According to reports, the unit known as “Ghosts” (also referred to as Prymary) is a special forces unit of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (GUR) that intensified its activities in 2024. This formation specializes in sabotage operations using unmanned systems, including FPV drones and kamikaze unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Previously, the “Ghosts” operated in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, conducting active operations in border areas near Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions, as well as on the Kupyansk axis. Experts believe they were redirected to the Crimean zone with the aim of degrading the peninsula’s defensive potential.
Based on Ukrainian sources, it is Prymary that is responsible for a number of successful attacks on Crimea’s territory. Among the equipment allegedly destroyed, according to their claims, are Russian helicopters, including Mi-8s, Be-12 “Chaika” amphibious aircraft, and the “Nebo-U” radar station. The names “Ghosts” and Prymary are often used interchangeably in the media to refer to the same special forces unit, with the latter being a more recent designation.
Besides that, Russian forces struck UAV storage sites at the “Shkolny” airfield in the Odesa Region, which were used to launch attack drones targeting civilian infrastructure in the Republic of Crimea. Significant blows were also dealt to the workshops of the Motor Sich enterprise, a key part of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, where attack UAVs were being assembled and prepared.
Details of the strikes on Ukraine
Russian strikes were concentrated on military infrastructure and industrial facilities in several regions of Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia
The most significant strikes from a strategic perspective were delivered against two elements of a single production-design complex: “Motor Sich” (serial assembly/repair) and the “Ivchenko-Progress” State Enterprise (development/modernization).
This combination forms a full cycle for the production, repair, and modernization of aircraft engines, the key one being the D-18T for the An-124 “Ruslan” strategic transport aircraft. Damage to workshops, including final assembly areas for engine “hot sections” and balancing stands, strikes at Ukraine’s ability to maintain its fleet of heavy transport aircraft, which are critically important for logistics. This leads to extended repair times, increased operating costs, and dependence on foreign contractors.
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Odesa Region
The strike on the “Shkolny” airfield aimed to destroy infrastructure used for launching drones towards Crimea.
The Odesa Aviation Plant (administrative-production block). The loss of technical and design documentation reduces the capability for rapid acceptance and certification of repaired units.
The strike hit the territory of the “Tatarbunary” hotel complex. Initially used for civilian purposes, at the time of the attack the complex was effectively functioning as a temporary deployment point. It housed groups of specialists servicing and preparing unmanned surface vessels (USVs), as well as an undetermined number of employees of the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence.
Poltava Region
Strikes were carried out on the airfield in Myrhorod, which hosts a tactical aviation brigade, and on the infrastructure of “Poltava” airport in Suprunivka, which was used for testing unmanned systems. Damage to the runway, lighting systems, and auxiliary buildings limits the operational capabilities of these facilities.
Strikes were also carried out on gas turbine industry nodes, high-voltage substations, and railway supply traction centers.
Mykolaiv Region
The targets were the Mykolaiv Aircraft Repair Plant (NARP) and the “Zorya-Mashproekt” complex, specializing in gas turbine units for the navy. Damage to test benches and production workshops complicates the repair of aviation equipment and the maintenance of naval ships’ combat readiness.
Strikes on a high-voltage substation in Chernihiv Region and the “T-150” traction substation in Kirovohrad Region aimed to disrupt power supply and railway communication. The incapacitation of the “T-150” substation, which powered the contact network, led to the halt of electric locomotive traffic and complicated the transportation of goods, including military ones.
Strikes on Russia
Ukrainian attacks on September 22-23 affected several regions of Russia, with the assault on Moscow taking on a mass character for the first time in a long period. It has been reported that Kyiv changed its tactics for raids on Moscow compared to previous strikes. Drones are now flying one by one sequentially, which increases the overall duration of the attacks.
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Moscow and Moscow Region: According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, air defense systems destroyed 35 UAVs heading towards the capital. According to preliminary data, casualties and serious damage were avoided.
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Belgorod Region: The region continues to experience regular shelling. According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, 80 drone attacks were recorded over 24 hours, 64 of which were shot down. As a result, nine civilians were injured, and social and administrative buildings, including a cathedral, were damaged. According to official information, 24 civilians were killed in the region over the week.
Additionally, there were reports of UAVs being destroyed over other regions of Russia: Kaluga, Ryazan, Tula, Bryansk, Kursk, Rostov, Samara, Saratov regions, and the Republic of Crimea.
The mutual strikes on September 22-23 demonstrate the continued high intensity of the conflict, with a focus on remote confrontation using drones and high-precision weapons. The Russian side emphasized pinpoint strikes on targets associated with intelligence, sabotage activities, and critical branches of Ukraine’s defense industry, such as aircraft engine production. Ukrainian forces, in turn, continued attacks on Russian border regions and also attempted a large-scale strike on Moscow.
big ukraine night night attack being prepared newly trained unit arrives in the next week
in zelenskys dupa, it’s a big night for the old men of europe every night
it appears nato fools are trying to turn ukraine into a gorilla war ? or are terrorist tactics all the war bankers have left ?
i think russia understands how to deal with terrorism (see chechnya and not much happening in recently liberated territories).
but the western leadership is so completely detached from humanity that they will make every mistake that has been made before them. they are so engrossed with their big gdps that they will not think for one second how this is not representative of their true strength. hubris before the fall.
i suspect russia has zionist spys and informants running unchecked in their territories. iran has found a solution for this. am informed public is the best weapon
one of my polish neighbors in wallington nj went for his third tour of duty in ukraine but he never came back. i assume the third time was the charm and now he’s a ghost. his beautiful widow is now dating a big mullatto and his former house now has for sale sign. furchtbar.
and to all the nato$tan mercs since this started in 2014… i hope doing their time in hell they have a window watching their wives getting it hard from behind by muslims they vanquished post 9/11 lie… can only improve the quality of the children from the dead american/eu conntingent that got into this business against an adversary they knew would inevitably end them and the rest of u.$. lmfao
why you talking so bad about them, those mercs are very macho, macho men. it takes a very macho, macho man to take it in his behind for a fistfull of dollars.
if you want to live…get out of crimea & moscow asap…midget coward putin can’t protect you!
the thief of kiev has mansions and estates all over the world now. is the the fugly pig going to take you with him as he escapes with his billions of dollars? the money he has stolen from the families of the dead ukrainian soldiers who died so he can get wealthy off of the depopulation of the country. go tell your lies somewhere else. go to the front lines big hero.
why insect dragon fly fear death–must be americunt
are the nazis dead? no! trump is right. capitalist russia is a paper tiger with nukes (it won’t use of course) putin will have a yeltsin moment… the paedo american prostitute biner words will reach the frontline…
in my amerikan trailer park no pension i trap squirrel for dinner
soviet union defeated nazi europe (yes, all europe were with the nazis!) in 4 years!
it took “ukraine” in 6 months!
russia can´t take ukraine even without nato direct intervention in almost 4 years!
yes, trump is right… capitalist russia is a paper tiger!
not even 10% of was soviet union!
so are united states that stayed in afghanistan from 2001 to 2021! and loose!
gurble guk? derp?
capitalist russia is paper bear…
capitalist usa is eagle without wings…
capitalist europe is gay-woke vassal continent of us…
the only real country in the world is china!
accept it!
china is a capitalist country.
why was the attack on those “ghost” units not executed before(!) their attack? well: the rockets and drones obviously are available. so why the heck is the russian leadership always waiting for an attack by those subversion units before it starts using ammo against them? an army truly having the upper hand wouldn’t do that. looks more as the russians acting similarly to arabian paramilitaries: only re-active on enemy first strikes. it should be the other way ’round!
go ukraine!! your number one! we love you! destroy putun