In the early hours of July 16, 2025, a powerful explosion rocked the outskirts of the temporarily occupied city of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia region. The blast targeted green UAZ-452, Soviet-era van commonly nicknamed the Bukhanka due to its boxy shape. The vehicle was destroyed in the incident, along with its occupants and payload.
Inside the van were two russian servicemen identified as members of a drone reconnaissance crew. These operators were responsible for piloting the Skat 350M UAV, a drone type frequently used by russian forces for aerial surveillance and artillery spotting in the region.
Read more: Ukrainian Border Guards Take Down Shahed Drone Flying at 1,500 Meters
The Skat 350M UAV, which was also onboard the vehicle at the time of the explosion, was completely destroyed. This particular drone model has been increasingly employed by russian forces in Zaporizhzhia to locate Ukrainian defense positions and adjust artillery fire with greater precision.
While the exact means of the strike remain undisclosed, the precision of the hit suggests that Ukrainian intelligence and resistance forces maintain effective surveillance and operational reach in temporarily occupied areas. This incident likely involved a coordinated effort to eliminate both the operators and the high-value reconnaissance asset they were transporting.
The destruction of the Skat 350M drone and its operators marks a tactical success for Ukrainian forces. Removing such assets hampers russian situational awareness and degrades their ability to conduct effective artillery operations in the Zaporizhzhia sector.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian border guards from the Stalevyi Kordon Detachment successfully intercepted and destroyed russian Shahed-type loitering munition over the Northern Slobozhanshchyna sector. The target was engaged and neutralized by a mobile fire group using a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun.
According to the Detachment's official statement, their forces detected and engaged the drone at an altitude of over 1,500 meters, demonstrating both effective coordination and technical skill under pressure.
Read more: Three Days of Planning, UAV Escort: Drone Resupply Missions Are Not Easy
