Ukrainian Forces Report AI-Assisted Drone Strikes in Russian-Occupied Mariupol

A Ukrainian military unit said it carried out artificial intelligence-assisted drone strikes deep inside Russian-occupied Mariupol, reaching targets as far as 160 kilometers behind the front line. The unit described the operation as a symbolic return to the city, which has been under Russian control since 2022.

The strikes represent an extension of Ukrainian reach into areas previously considered deep in occupied territory.

The military unit reported using AI to support the drone missions, allowing for strikes at extended range. Mariupol, a port city in the Donetsk region, fell to Russian forces in May 2022 after a prolonged siege that destroyed much of its infrastructure.

The reported strikes come more than four years after the city's capture. Ukrainian forces have increasingly employed long-range drone operations to target rear areas in Russian-occupied territory.

The development occurs amid ongoing fighting along the front line in eastern Ukraine. Both sides have expanded use of unmanned aerial systems equipped with advanced guidance and navigation technology. The military unit that reported the strikes first gained international attention during the defense of Mariupol in 2022.

Its operations have since expanded to include cross-border and deep-strike missions using evolving technology.