Ukraine Drone Strikes Damage Russian Su-30 Jets at Crimea's Saki Air Base
On July 1, 2026, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) confirmed drone strikes on hardened aircraft hangars at Russia's Saki air base in occupied Crimea, damaging or destroying at least seven Russian Su-30SM, Su-30, and Su-24 jets. A second strike hit Hvardiiske airfield, targeting Shahed drone storage. The attacks are part of a 40-day pressure campaign ordered by President Zelensky to degrade Russian air power and reduce strike capacity against Ukraine. Satellite imagery confirmed structural damage to shelters.
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Hardened Aircraft Shelters at Russian Saki Air Base in Crimea Damaged by Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Ukraine's SBU launched drone strikes on Russia's Saki Air Base in Crimea, damaging hardened aircraft shelters housing Su-30SM and Su-24 jets. Satellite imagery from Vantor shows four shelters with structural damage and blown-off doors, though it is unclear if aircraft were inside. The attack is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign to make Crimea untenable for Russian forces, including strikes on bridges and fuel infrastructure. Separately, a Russian military exercise simulated repelling a Ukrainian amphibious assault on Crimea, though analysts note Ukraine lacks a conventional navy and would likely use drones and precision weapons. The strikes follow months of pressure on Russian logistics and air defenses in the region.
TWZHardened Aircraft Shelters at Russian Air Base in Crimea Damaged from Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Ukraine's SBU launched a drone strike on Russia's Saki Air Base in Crimea on Friday, damaging hardened aircraft shelters housing Su-30SM and Su-24 jets. The attack is part of President Zelensky's campaign to make Crimea uninhabitable for Russian forces. Satellite imagery from Vantor shows damage to four shelters, with doors blown off and structural damage, though it is unclear if aircraft were inside. SBU claims at least seven aircraft were destroyed or damaged, but no visual evidence was provided. The strikes follow months of Ukrainian attacks on Crimean bridges and fuel infrastructure, leading to gasoline rationing. A Russian wargame simulated defending against a Ukrainian amphibious assault, though analysts suggest the scenario involved drones and precision weapons rather than a traditional landing.
TWZUkraine strikes Russian airfields in Crimea twice in a week, destroying or damaging at least seven jets
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) conducted a drone strike on the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea for the second time in a week, destroying or damaging at least seven Russian aircraft sheltered inside hardened hangars, including Su-30SM and Su-30 multirole fighters and Su-24 bombers. The same operation also struck two hangars at Hvardiiske airfield near Simferopol, targeting facilities storing Shahed-type attack drones and aviation equipment. Acting SBU head Yevhen Khmara said the strikes are part of a 40-day campaign of maximum pressure on Russian forces, following President Zelensky's directive. The attacks methodically target aircraft used for missile and bomb strikes against Ukraine, aiming to reduce Russia's sortie capacity and degrade its military potential on the peninsula.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense NewsUkraine Strikes Russian Airfields in Crimea Twice in One Week, Destroying Jets
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) conducted drone strikes on two Russian military airfields in occupied Crimea this week, destroying or damaging at least seven Russian aircraft. The strikes hit seven hangars at Saky airfield, destroying Su-30SM, Su-30, and Su-24 jets, and two hangars at Hvardiiske airfield, which stored Shahed-type drones and aviation equipment. This was the second attack on Saky in the same week, indicating a systematic campaign to degrade Russian air power. The operation is part of a 40-day pressure campaign directed by President Zelensky. SBU Acting Head Yevhen Khmara stated the goal is to systematically degrade Russia's military potential and reduce its ability to strike Ukrainian territory and support ground operations.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense NewsUkrainian drones hit Russian Su-30 fighters at Crimea's Saki air base
On July 1, 2026, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) confirmed five drone strikes on aircraft hangars at the Saki military air base in Russian-occupied Crimea, part of a 40-day influence operation directed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The strikes targeted hangars containing Russian Su-30 and Su-30SM fighters. A fire was confirmed in the hangar holding an Su-30SM, with each aircraft valued between $30 million and $50 million. The Saki base, located on Crimea's western coast near Novofedorivka, is a key Russian air hub in the Black Sea theater, previously hit by a major explosion in August 2022. The SBU’s detailed and quantified confirmation, including named aircraft types and cost estimates, was unusually direct and framed the operation in economic terms to highlight cost imposition on Russia's defense industry.
The Defence Blog – Military and Defense News