Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Fighter Jet and Air Defense System in Crimea
UJ-26 Bober long-range drones successfully struck a Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft, along with radars and a Pantsir-S1 air defense system in Crimea.
The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine released footage of the operation.
During the night of July 1, the intelligence agency deployed an upgraded version of the UJ-26 Bober drone, featuring a thermal imaging camera and the ability for manual control.
The drones, armed with warheads weighing several dozen kilograms, completely destroyed the enemy Pantsir-S1 air defense system and disabled the Niobiy-SV, Pechora-3, and Protivnik-GE radars, which supported surveillance for other air defense units.
Following the neutralization of the enemy’s air defense, one of the drones penetrated the military air base in Saky and struck near a Su-30 fighter jet. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine did not provide objective confirmation after the strike, but the warhead’s power was likely sufficient to damage the aircraft with debris.
A detailed examination of the footage shows equipment and personnel fleeing near the aircraft. Considering that the pilot’s canopy is open, this may indicate preparations for takeoff—possibly an attempt to move the jet out of harm’s way.
The Saky military air base is one of the key air bases on the Crimean Peninsula for Russian aviation. Until 2014, it served as a base for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Today, it is home to the 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
This air base regularly hosts multirole Su-30SM fighter jets, supersonic Su-24M/MR bombers, and other aircraft that, among other roles, carry out strikes against Ukraine.
Since the full-scale war with Russia began, the Russian base at Saky has been repeatedly targeted by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. One of the most notable incidents occurred in August 2022, when multiple explosions at an ammunition depot resulted in the destruction of at least 8-9 combat aircraft.
Satellite images confirmed the following losses:
- Five Su-24 bombers destroyed;
- Three Su-30SM aircraft destroyed;
- One Su-30SM fighter aircraft damaged;
- Three Su-24 bombers likely damaged.
Additionally, secondary explosions caused significant damage to the airfield’s equipment storage and infrastructure.
Later, in 2024, the Saky air base was struck by ATACMS ballistic missiles. It is known that Russian ammunition depots, personnel, and surveillance radars located on the site were hit.
