Ukraine targets Russian military sites as reports point to possible JDAM-LR use

Ukrainian defense forces have struck both the main and backup command posts of Russian forces near Donetsk using air-launched missiles. The attacks took place on August 26 and overnight into August 27, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops also targeted a Russian repair and recovery unit near Chonhar in Kherson region, as well as a drone control site in Olenivka, in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. In addition, defense forces carried out strikes on concentrations of Russian personnel in Novopetrivka, Zaporizhzhia region, and in Vostok, occupied Crimea. The scale of the damage and Russian losses are still being assessed.

The General Staff also reported further results from the attack on the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, carried out on August 25. The strike damaged a crude oil distillation unit, a gas fractionation unit, and a section of pipeline. “Work on key enemy targets is ongoing,” the General Staff said.

Defence Express suggests that Ukrainian forces may have used a new JDAM-LR cruise missile in the strike on Russian command posts in Donetsk. The publication points to the discovery of wing fragments and their mounting system at the site, including one piece with the marking 6F8W7 belonging to the Australian company Ferra Aerospace. This firm manufactures wing kits for JDAM-ER glide bombs in partnership with Boeing. Defence Express notes that the JDAM-ER has a stated range of up to 75 kilometers, while the JDAM-LR, equipped with a jet engine, could travel more than 300 nautical miles—about 555 kilometers. The missile is believed to be compatible with F-16, MiG-29, and Su-27 aircraft. However, the use of the JDAM-LR remains unconfirmed. There is still no definitive evidence that Ukraine has received these missiles, and if any were delivered, they likely arrived in limited numbers.

On August 13, explosions and a large fire broke out at the Galaktika shopping center in occupied Yenakiieve, Donetsk region. The cause was unknown at the time, and occupation authorities did not comment. OSINT analysts reported drone activity in the area, and witnesses heard sounds resembling detonations during the blaze.

The Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channel Exile+ has reported new details about the massive strike on Donetsk on August 26. According to the channel, one of the targets hit was a concealed location housing Russian personnel and headquarters, while a second target was an underground parking garage used for storing missile launchers and armored vehicles. Exile+ claims that around 13 impacts were recorded during the attack.

The headquarters was reportedly set up in the industrial zone of a former scientific research institute at 97 Illicha Avenue. The channel said the strike caused significant casualties, although this information has not been independently verified. Ukrainian media have also cited these reports from monitoring channels.

Exile+ said the second target was a two-level underground parking garage of an unfinished residential complex, allegedly used by Russian forces to shelter missile launchers and armored vehicles. The facility was reportedly struck by at least six missiles.

The OSINT project Kiberboroshno earlier determined that the residential complex consists of three 21-story buildings and that its underground parking garage could accommodate about 600 cars. The complex was being built by MAKO Holding, a company owned by Oleksandr Yanukovych, the elder son of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The project’s authors suggested immediately after the attack that the parking garage could have been used by Russian troops.

Exile+ also reported that after the strike, there was a mass evacuation of wounded Russian servicemembers in Donetsk and an urgent blood drive was announced. Ukrainian media, citing local Telegram channels, said that streets near the attack site were cordoned off and that the evacuation of the wounded continued for an extended period.

A day before, Denis Pushylin, head of the Russian-controlled administration of Donetsk region, said that on August 26, the city center was subjected to massive shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to his information, three people were wounded, including a child. Russian military blogger Anatoliy Radov claimed that ten people were killed.

On July 3, Vladimir Putin and top Russian military officials claimed full occupation of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region. The Institute for the Study of War disputed this, stating that Russian forces controlled only certain sites and neighborhoods within the city. Ukrainian officials said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine continued to hold positions in Kostiantynivka.