Ukraine’s Security Service says a second drone strike on Russia’s Belbek air base in occupied Crimea destroyed two Su-27 fighter jets and damaged critical airfield infrastructure, further weakening Moscow’s air operations in the region.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has conducted a second strike in recent days against Russia’s Belbek air base in occupied Crimea, destroying Russian military aircraft and damaging key airfield infrastructure, according to the SBU press service.
In an official statement, the SBU said its unmanned systems struck the Belbek facility, destroying two Russian Su-27 fighter jets. One of the aircraft was reportedly on a taxiway at the time of the attack, fully armed and prepared for a combat mission.
“One of the aircraft was on the taxiway with a full combat load and ready for a combat sortie. It was destroyed,” the SBU said.
The agency estimated the combined value of the two destroyed aircraft at approximately $70 million.
The SBU also confirmed damage to Belbek’s air traffic control systems, a strike that could significantly disrupt flight coordination and operational control at the base. Ukrainian officials stated that the loss of command-and-control infrastructure further weakens Russia’s ability to sustain air operations from the facility.
According to the SBU, this was the second successful strike on Belbek air base within a short period, highlighting what Ukrainian officials describe as a sustained campaign to degrade Russian airpower and air defense capabilities in occupied Crimea.
The latest attack follows an earlier strike on December 18, when SBU-operated drones targeted high-value Russian military assets at the same airfield. That operation reportedly caused damage to equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
During the December 18 strike, Ukrainian drones allegedly destroyed two Nebo-SVU radar systems, a 92N6 radar linked to the S-400 “Triumf” air defense system, a Pantsir-S2 air defense system, and a MiG-31 interceptor aircraft that was also armed and ready for combat.
The SBU noted that the MiG-31 was carrying a full combat load at the time of the strike, increasing the operational impact of the attack.
Belbek air base has long been a key Russian military aviation hub in Crimea, supporting fighter, interceptor, and air defense operations across the Black Sea region. Since Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea in 2014, the base has been heavily fortified and integrated into Russia’s layered air defense network.
The Su-27 fighter jets destroyed in the latest strike are Soviet-designed aircraft that remain in service with Russian forces, primarily for air defense missions. Although aging, the platform continues to play a role in patrol and defensive operations over Crimea and southern Russia.
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