Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) confirmed the destruction of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet at an airfield in the Russian city of Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai, on December 14, 2024.
The operation was carried out by GUR operatives and has been described as a calculated act targeting Russian military infrastructure.
The Su-27P, bearing the red tail number 16, was set ablaze at the Krymsk operational airbase. Initial reports mistakenly identified the destroyed aircraft as a Su-30, but subsequent verification confirmed the jet as a Su-27. Judging by footage from the scene, the aircraft either suffered critical damage or was completely destroyed by fire.
The incident marks another bold operation by Ukrainian intelligence aimed at weakening Russia’s air power capabilities.
While GUR has not disclosed specific details about the methods used in the operation, it emphasized that this strike is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military operations and infrastructure.
❌ Винищувач Су-30 і три локомотиви знищено на росії
✔️ 14 грудня 2024 року у місті кримськ краснодарського краю держави-агресора росії прямо на аеродромі згорів ворожий винищувач Су-30.
🔗 https://t.co/JyeOgY6vWl pic.twitter.com/9xPK5iy8nh
— Defence intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) December 14, 2024
This is not the first time Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian assets beyond the battlefield. Recent months have seen an increase in sabotage and covert missions inside Russian territory, particularly focusing on airbases and logistics hubs. These operations are seen as a response to ongoing Russian airstrikes and aggression against Ukraine.