Key facts
- Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) identified the Russian unit responsible for a drone strike on a Chernihiv supermarket.
- The July 26 attack killed two people, including a 9-year-old girl, and injured 25 others.
- The strike was carried out by Combat Group 3 of the GROM "Cascade" Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade.
- HUR stated the unit launched a jet-powered Geran-4 drone from Russia's Bryansk Oblast.
- The agency identified the group's senior officer as A.O. Sergunin.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has identified the Russian unit responsible for a deadly drone attack on a supermarket in Chernihiv on July 26. The strike, which killed two people, including a 9-year-old girl, and injured 25 others, was carried out by Combat Group 3 of the GROM "Cascade" Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, part of Russia's Unmanned Systems Forces. According to HUR, this unit launched a jet-powered Geran-4 drone from Russia's Bryansk Oblast. The agency identified the group's senior officer as A.O. Sergunin. HUR described the GROM Cascade brigade as specializing in long-range drone attacks against civilian targets in Ukraine and noted its reputation for recruiting members from privileged societal strata through short-term contracts that grant veteran status without combat exposure. Previously, HUR identified the brigade commander as Lieutenant Colonel Ruslan Negrub. The Geran-4 drone was reportedly equipped with a video camera, suggesting a deliberate targeting of a civilian site during daylight hours. Russia's Geran drones are based on Iranian-made Shaheds and have been continuously modified. Ukraine reported downing the first jet-powered version in January 2024, with mass attacks using upgraded Gerans beginning in summer 2025. HUR stated it is continuing to identify all perpetrators and vowed retribution for war crimes.