- Ukraine’s military intelligence said its forces struck a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft on a runway in occupied Crimea as it prepared for takeoff.
- The agency also reported damage to two Russian radar systems during the same operation on December 10–11.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said it has confirmed a strike on a Russian military transport aircraft and two radar systems in temporarily occupied Crimea, describing the operation as a targeted action against Russian military assets preparing for flight.
According to a statement released by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, loud explosions were reported in Crimea on December 10–11 as Russian forces prepared a multi-purpose military transport aircraft, an An-26, for departure.
“In the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea, it was noisy again,” the press service said. “The occupiers were preparing for takeoff on a multi-purpose military transport aircraft An-26 and had already started the engines, but the illegal flight was strictly forbidden to the crew of the Russian occupiers by the masters of the special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine ‘Ghosts’ — they struck precisely at the left turboprop.”
The An-26 is a Soviet-designed twin-engine turboprop widely used by the Russian military for transporting personnel, cargo, and supplies between bases.
As noted by the intelligence service, the same operation also resulted in damage to two Russian radar systems deployed on the peninsula. Ukrainian officials did not disclose the specific radar models or their exact locations, citing operational security considerations.
Russian sources have reported fatalities following the incident. According to those reports, there were deaths among both the An-26 crew and passengers the aircraft was transporting at the time.
The Main Intelligence Directorate emphasized that Crimea remains a legitimate military target under international law, as it is territory temporarily occupied by Russian forces. The agency said Russian aircraft operating from the peninsula are routinely used to support military operations against Ukraine, including logistics, troop movement, and supply missions.