Storm Shadow Missiles Destroy Russian Shahed Drone Storage in Donetsk

(DONETSK OBLAST, UKRAINE) – Ukrainian forces have conducted a combined missile strike on a Russian storage facility for Shahed attack drones near Donetsk airport, triggering secondary explosions that indicate the destruction of warhead stockpiles.

At least three Storm Shadow missiles hit the facility, according to video footage shared on 15 April 2025. The missiles were launched in pairs, suggesting that either one round missed its target or was intercepted by Russian air defence systems, though analysts note the latter is unlikely given the demonstrated performance of Russian air defences throughout the war.

One of the Storm Shadow impacts caused a significant ammunition cook off, with secondary explosions ripping through a warehouse. This building is believed to have contained warheads for Shahed drones, which Russia typically stores separately from the drone airframes before final assembly shortly before launch.

Geolocation of the strike, conducted by an independent analyst on social media, shows the attack routes and approximate impact points. One missile struck a large grey coloured building, a newly constructed structure that was not part of the original air base. The other two missiles hit adjacent buildings, with the secondary cook off occurring at the location where warheads were likely stored.

The facility is an unusual choice for Russian operations. It is located close to the front lines, making it vulnerable to Ukrainian attack. Ukraine has previously struck the base multiple times using first person view (FPV) attack drones, but this marks the first confirmed use of missiles against the site, suggesting that drone operations had been insufficient to fully neutralise the drone storage capabilities.

Satellite and video imagery shows launch rails for Shahed drones to the north of the destroyed buildings. Several weeks prior to this strike, Ukrainian forces also hit truck mounted Shahed launch systems at the same location.

The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s military has shown no indication of abandoning the base despite repeated Ukrainian attacks. The facility remains operational and continues to pose a threat, though its proximity to the front line makes it persistently vulnerable to further strikes.