Russian assault near Pokrovsk collapses after Ukrainian drones destroy key artillery
Illustrative photo: Self-propelled artillery supporting Russian airborne troops destroyed in Pokrovsk (Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces have destroyed a self-propelled artillery system belonging to Russian airborne troops in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, disrupting preparations for a Russian assault on the village of Hryshyne, according to the 7th Air Assault Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Read also: Ukrainian troops hit enemy positions: Drone hub destroyed among other strikes
Artillery system hidden inside a building
According to the military, the enemy concealed a 2S9 Nona-S self-propelled artillery system inside a non-residential building in the private housing sector in the western part of the city.
Russian forces planned to use the system to support assault operations against Hryshyne by units of Russia’s 76th Air Assault Division.
FPV drones destroy the equipment
After the artillery system was detected, Ukrainian drone units deployed FPV drones. The drones penetrated the building and, with several precise strikes, destroyed the artillery system by hitting its most vulnerable components.
#Ukrainian drones destroy Russian artillery in #Pokrovsk, halting assault plans pic.twitter.com/cZVfDs4UrZ
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) February 8, 2026
Situation on the frontline
According to the 7th Air Assault Corps, Russian forces launched a mechanized assault on the village of Hryshyne in the Pokrovsk sector. Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack, destroying part of the enemy’s armored vehicles and personnel, although fighting in the area was ongoing at the time.
In addition, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russia is moving reserves toward the Pokrovsk area and attempting to advance using small assault groups.
Earlier, it was also reported that Ukrainian troops near Pokrovsk were rescued from potential capture thanks to aerial reconnaissance and strike drones.
Previously, a Leopard 2 tank crew from the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after Anna of Kyiv, destroyed the remaining Russian airborne troops on the outskirts of Hryshyne with accurate fire.
