Ukraine Reports Strike on Russian Bomber in Occupied Crimea
The General Staff announced that Ukrainian forces targeted a Su-24 aircraft and multiple drone infrastructure sites in the final days of September.
Ukrainian military authorities have reported a successful strike against a Russian Su-24 bomber located at Saky air base in occupied Crimea. The General Staff announced on September 16 that the attack occurred between September 15 and 16, marking the latest in a series of operations aimed at degrading Russian air capabilities in the region. While the extent of the damage to the aircraft is currently under assessment, the confirmation of the hit underscores the continued reach of Ukrainian long-range assets into territory controlled by Moscow.
According to the Kyiv Independent, this incident is part of a broader pattern of strikes on Saky air base, which has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Su-24, a Soviet-era twin-engine tactical bomber, remains a key component of the Russian Air Force’s strike inventory, capable of deploying both guided and unguided munitions against ground targets. Its presence in Crimea highlights the strategic importance of the peninsula as a launchpad for operations against Ukrainian territory.
Drone infrastructure targeted in eastern regions
Beyond the air base strike, the General Staff reported hits on several Russian drone-related facilities in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Ukrainian forces struck a drone launch and storage site near the city of Donetsk, alongside three ground control stations located in Staromlynivka, Pokrovsk, and Pokrovske. These strikes aim to disrupt the coordination and deployment of unmanned aerial systems that have become a central element of Russian battlefield tactics.
Logistical depots struck in Luhansk
The reported operations also included attacks on critical logistics infrastructure. The General Staff stated that an ammunition depot in Luhansk Oblast was hit, along with fuel and lubricant storage bases in both Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. By targeting these supply nodes, Ukrainian forces seek to constrain the operational endurance of Russian units, potentially limiting their ability to sustain prolonged offensive actions in the region.
Repeated targeting of Saky base
This latest incident follows a previous strike claimed by Ukraine’s Omega special forces unit in July, which targeted an Su-24M frontline bomber at the same Saky air base. The Su-24M is a modernized variant of the base model, widely used by Moscow for strike missions throughout the conflict. The repeated focus on this specific airfield suggests a strategic effort to degrade the Russian Air Force’s capacity to project power from the Crimean peninsula.
As damage assessments continue, the focus now shifts to how these strikes impact Russian operational planning in the short term. Observers will be watching for any shifts in Russian air activity or adjustments to drone deployment patterns in the coming days. The ability of Ukrainian forces to maintain pressure on key infrastructure in occupied territories remains a critical factor in the broader military balance.
