Bunker hunt in Kharkiv: Molniya-2 sweep hidden Ukrainian positions
The Kharkiv region remains one of the most brutal fronts of the war, with drones, reconnaissance flights, and precision strikes playing an increasingly significant role in operations on both sides. According to information broadcast by the Russian news agency TASS, Russian forces claim that during September they destroyed more than 210 Ukrainian bunkers and fortified positions in the Kharkiv region.
Airborne hunt: Antennas, Starlink, and camouflaged positions targeted
According to an officer using the call sign Karta, identified as head of a uncrewed aerial vehicle planning and counter-measures unit, the positions were located during extensive aerial reconnaissance. As he claimed, drone operators were specifically looking for signs that could reveal the presence of Ukrainian units. Among these were communication antennas, camouflage nets, Starlink satellite systems, tracks of personnel movement, and other indications of military activity. Following their detection, coordinates were reportedly transmitted to the units executing the strikes.
Molniya-2 over the front: The drones searching for hidden spots
For the attacks, according to the Russian side, Molniya-2 drones were utilized. These are fixed-wing drones that Russian forces deploy on strike missions, having repeatedly appeared in operations against Ukrainian positions. Russian military sources have presented the Molniya as a system capable of striking targets at greater distances than a conventional FPV drone, while TASS previously reported Russian claims of an operational range reaching up to approximately 50 kilometers. Footage released during September and attributed to Russian military sources also shows the deployment of Molniya-2 and FPV drones against positions and telecommunication facilities in the Kharkiv area. However, the origin of such material requires cautious evaluation, as it frequently forms part of the war reporting from participating sides.
Battle for the opponent's "eyes": Drone networks targeted
Behind the attacks on bunkers lies a broader battle that has acquired immense importance on the Ukrainian front: each side's attempt to blind the rival's drones and communication systems. Uncrewed aerial vehicle control centers, antennas, repeaters, Starlink terminals, and operator positions now represent high-value targets. The Institute for the Study of War recorded on September 18 that Russian forces were continuing operations aimed at degrading Ukrainian drone infrastructure in the direction of Kharkiv. At the same time, however, it noted that Russian offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region had not led to confirmed new advances during those days.
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