Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces report 38 energy hubs struck in Russia and occupied territories
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said on September 23 that 38 energy hubs on Russian and Russian-occupied territory were struck as part of the operation "Crimean Switch off," including 10 facilities in Crimea. Between July 6 and September 22, the campaign disabled 412 energy hubs in total.
Key points
- 38 energy hubs struck on September 23 across Russia and occupied territories, per Commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi
- 10 energy facilities struck in Crimea during the second decade of September
- 9 struck in occupied Donetsk Oblast, 13 in occupied Luhansk Oblast, 4 in Russia over the same period
- One facility each reportedly struck in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts
- 412 energy hubs disabled from July 6 through September 22 since the operation began
- Operation "Crimean Switch off" has run since July 6, targeting energy and critical infrastructure in occupied territory and Russia
Why it matters
The reported strikes represent a continued escalation in Ukraine's long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, with targets concentrated in Crimea and other occupied territories that support Russian occupation forces. The cumulative tally demonstrates the Unmanned Systems Forces' sustained operational reach across a wide geographic area.
What happened
On September 23, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, reported that 38 energy hubs on the territory of Russia and temporarily occupied territories had been struck as part of the operation "Crimean Switch off."
The breakdown for the second decade of September included 10 energy facilities in Crimea, 9 in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, 13 in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast, and 4 in Russia. One energy facility each was reportedly struck in Kharkiv Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Specific substations reported hit included sites in Mykhailivka, Zemlianky, Sukhivske, Stizhkivske, and Khrestivtsi in Donetsk Oblast; Honcharivka, Tarasivka, Svatove, Volodymyrivka (twice), Zaporizke, Tymonove, and Lisna Dacha in Luhansk Oblast; Hrakovе in Kharkiv Oblast, Artilne in Russia, and Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In Crimea, gas distribution stations struck included Orlivka, Bakhchysarai-2, Bilohirsk, Kyr-Bailar, Kholmivka, Hornostaivka, Klepinine, Islam-Terek, and the Tasunove compressor station, along with GRS "Rodakove" in Luhansk Oblast and GRS "Kreidyanka" in Russia.
From July 6 to September 22, the operation disabled 412 energy hubs in total. The campaign runs alongside operation MoLоЧКа against Russia's shadow fleet, under which the Unmanned Systems Forces say they have struck 300 vessels and effectively blocked movement in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both source articles are Ukrainian and frame the strikes as a systematic, named campaign rather than isolated incidents, centering the achievement on the Unmanned Systems Forces and Commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi. Coverage emphasizes the operational name "Crimean Switch off" and highlights both the geographic spread across Crimea, occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, and Russian territory, as well as the cumulative tally to underscore reach. About half of all struck objects are estimated to constitute critical infrastructure on which occupation forces depend.
Background
The operation "Crimean Switch off" has been running since July 6, with 412 energy hubs disabled through September 22. An earlier report dated August 22 cited 27 energy hubs struck in Crimea and southern occupied territories over six days. The same drone campaign encompasses operation MoLоЧКа against the Russian shadow fleet, with 300 vessels reportedly struck since July 6. Separately, the private drone manufacturer Fire Point reported striking more than 100 Russian military objects in occupied Crimea with FP-2 drones over three months.