Ukrainian forces have carried out a precision drone strike on a Russian airbase in occupied Crimea, destroying two An-26 military transport aircraft and damaging critical radar infrastructure, the country’s defense intelligence agency said.
According to a statement from the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), Ukrainian special operations units conducted a raid on the peninsula, targeting the airfield and several military assets.
“During the raid on the peninsula, special forces of Ukrainian military intelligence burned two transport aircraft of the Russian invaders, An-26,” the agency said.
In addition to the aircraft, Ukrainian drones struck and disabled a Russian surface radar station and a coastal MR-10M1 “Mys M1” radar site, according to the intelligence report. These systems are used to track surface targets and support maritime surveillance operations in the Black Sea region.
The strike underscores Ukraine’s growing use of advanced, long-range drones capable of evading Russian air defenses and hitting high-value military targets deep inside occupied territory. The operation was carried out under the cover of darkness, with drones reportedly striking their targets during nighttime hours.
Russian forces, the statement said, were unable to counter the latest wave of precision drone attacks, which Kyiv has increasingly deployed against key logistical and strategic sites on the Crimean peninsula. The success of these operations has exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s defensive posture and highlighted the expanding reach of Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities.
This latest strike follows a series of Ukrainian drone operations in Crimea targeting Russian military aviation. Previous attacks have destroyed Be-12 maritime patrol aircraft and several Mi-8 helicopters, demonstrating a sustained campaign aimed at degrading Russian air power and surveillance capabilities in the region.