Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed Monday that its special operations unit “A” conducted a drone strike on the Russian-occupied Saky military airfield in Crimea overnight, damaging and destroying multiple combat aircraft and a stockpile of aviation munitions.
According to an official statement released on August 4, unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the SBU successfully penetrated Russian defenses and struck targets on the airfield.
“As a result of the strike on the airfield, a stockpile of aviation munitions was hit. A Su-30SM fighter jet was completely destroyed, another was damaged. Additionally, three Su-24 bombers were struck,” the agency reported.
The SBU emphasized the economic impact of the operation, noting that “a single Su-30SM fighter jet may cost between $35 and $50 million.”
The agency described the strike as part of an ongoing effort to inflict material losses on the Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea.
In addition to aircraft losses, Ukrainian officials confirmed that a facility storing aviation ordnance on the airfield was also struck and sustained heavy damage.
Open-source intelligence analysts, including contributors to the Exilenova+ group, stated, “We can confirm the drone raid on the airfield during the night. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.”
OSINT researchers were able to verify the timing and location of the attack using geolocated footage recorded by local residents, who captured video showing explosions on the airfield shortly after midnight. The videos, which circulated on social media platforms, depict multiple impact flashes and secondary detonations consistent with ammunition storage hits.
The Saky airbase, located in western Crimea near Novofedorivka, has been a key site for Russian naval aviation operations, including the deployment of Su-30SM and Su-24 aircraft that have supported Russian strikes across southern Ukraine.