Russian Drone Destroys Ukrainian F-16 Mock-Up at Airbase

A video has surfaced online showing a Russian military drone striking and destroying a training mock-up of a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet at an airbase in Ukraine. The footage was released by Rubikon, the Russian Defense Ministry’s center for advanced unmanned technologies.

Rubikon reported on its official Telegram channel that its drone unit had hit a replica of an F-16ADV aircraft used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The target, according to the statement, was not an operational jet but a training model intended for the instruction of engineering and technical personnel.

The video, recorded by the BM-35 «Italmas» strike drone, captures the moment the UAV approaches and hits the American-made fighter mock-up.

Ukraine, alongside combat aircraft deliveries, has also received several decommissioned F-16s specifically meant for training technical crews. One such aircraft was reportedly brought to the Kanatovo airbase, a reserve facility used by Ukraine’s air force as a stopover point for maintenance and servicing.

Beyond the destruction of the target itself, attention has also focused on the range of the strike. Kanatovo is located roughly 200 kilometers from the line of contact, suggesting the BM-35 «Italmas» may have flown an unusually long-distance mission — potentially setting a new record.

Previously, the longest confirmed strike range for this drone stood at 178 kilometers, achieved during an attack on a Ukrainian air defense radar.