Ukraine strikes Russian jets at Belbek airbase in Crimea

Ukrainian security forces have struck two Russian Su-27 fighter jets at the Belbek military airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has confirmed.

The attack was carried out using long-range drones from the SBU’s “Alpha” Special Operations Centre.

According to the SBU, one of the jets was fully armed and positioned on the taxiway, ready for combat, and was destroyed in the strike. The estimated combined value of the two aircraft is around $70 million.

The SBU also confirmed damage to the airbase’s control tower, complicating the coordination and oversight of Russian flight operations.

This marks the second successful SBU operation at Belbek in recent days. On 18 December, drones targeted Russian military assets at the same airfield, destroying two Nebo-SVU radar systems, a 92N6 radar from an S-400 Triumph missile system, a Pantsir-S2 air-defence system, and a fully armed MiG-31 fighter jet, with a total value estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Analysts say the strikes on key military airbases and the destruction of Russian aircraft and air-defence systems in occupied Crimea are likely to significantly reduce the region’s operational capability. The SBU has stated that systematic operations against Russian targets are ongoing.

By Aghakazim Guliyev