Ukrainian defenders have successfully targeted a temporary russian troop location in the embattled city of Bakhmut, employing a new domestically produced fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle, the Privet-299 unit. The strike adds to the growing list of Ukrainian drone warfare successes and showcases the country's expanding indigenous capabilities in precision strikes.
The attack was confirmed by the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade. In an official statement, the brigade reported, "Bakhmut. Strike on the temporary location of enemy personnel. Have a nice rest, occupiers!" The post was accompanied by a video capturing the moment of impact.
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The use of the Privet-299 drone represents another leap forward in Ukraine's drone arsenal. Fixed-wing drones offer longer flight ranges and higher endurance than multirotor UAVs, making them especially suitable for strikes deep in enemy-held territory. While official specifications remain undisclosed, the system's operational debut in a high-intensity combat zone highlights its readiness for battlefield deployment.
Bakhmut, a focal point of some of the fiercest fighting since the start of russia's invasion, remains a contested area where both sides continually seek tactical advantages. Strikes on temporary troop concentrations are part of Ukraine's broader effort to degrade russian manpower and disrupt unit rotations in the region.
The strike's success is also indicative of the shift toward increased use of domestically designed and produced weapons, reducing reliance on foreign systems. Ukrainian engineers and military units have been working closely to rapidly prototype, test, and deploy combat UAVs suited to frontline needs.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian military engineers have mounted a turret from the T-72B tank onto the chassis of Soviet-era 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled artillery system, creating what some observers have dubbed a Frankenstein tank.
The unusual hybrid is less the product of design ambition than of resource constraints.
Read more: Ukraine's Frankenstein Tank: Improvised Hybrid Born from Necessity
