The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has claimed that drones operated by Ukrainian forces struck the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, destroying three Russian helicopters—Mi-8, Mi-26, and Mi-28—as well as a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system. According to the SBU, the attack targeted Russian aviation, air defense systems, ammunition depots, and reconnaissance and attack drones. Secondary explosions were reported at the site during the night of June 28, though the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory, following a previous attack on June 27 that reportedly destroyed four Su-34 fighter jets at the Marinovka airfield in Volgograd Oblast. Preliminary reports indicated that two of the aircraft were destroyed and two others were damaged. Russia uses these jets to conduct airstrikes on Ukrainian territory, making their loss a significant blow to its aerial capabilities.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has reportedly lost over 420 aircraft and 337 helicopters, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. However, these figures have not been independently confirmed by the Kyiv Independent. The increased use of drones by Ukraine has been part of a strategy to disrupt Russia’s ability to conduct aerial attacks, with the goal of making the Russian population bear the cost of the war.
As Russia intensifies its aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities, the civilian death toll continues to rise. In response, Ukraine has escalated its drone operations against Russian military infrastructure. The latest strikes on airfields and military bases highlight the shifting nature of the conflict, which is now characterized by high-tech warfare and asymmetric tactics. The SBU’s attack on Crimea’s Kirovske airfield underscores the ongoing military confrontation and the increasing role of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern combat.