Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it struck hangars housing Russian fighter jets at the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea on Wednesday, July 1.
“As part of the 40-day campaign against Russia approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the SBU carried out a successful strike on the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea. The target of the operation was the airfield’s infrastructure, including hangars housing fighter aircraft,” the SBU said.
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Drones scored five confirmed hits on aircraft hangars at the air base, targeting military infrastructure used by Russia’s aviation forces.
According to preliminary information released by the agency, two of the hangars contained Su-30 and Su-30SM fighter jets at the time of the attack. A fire later broke out inside the hangar where a Su-30SM was reportedly stationed, which the SBU said indicated the strike had successfully hit its target.
“The target of the operation was the airfield’s infrastructure, including hangars with fighter aircraft,” the SBU said in a statement.
The agency estimated that each aircraft is worth between $30 million and $50 million, depending on its configuration.
And while most frontline, combat zone military airbases operated by modern combat air forces keep their aircraft in hardened aircraft shelters (HAS), Russia has historically relied on dispersing aircraft around its ample territory and keeping aircraft in the open on tarmac aprons or in unprotected hangars.
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“The SBU is systematically destroying the military potential of the Russian occupiers both on the front line and deep behind enemy lines,” the agency said. “No hangars or shelters will protect the enemy — the SBU will reach them everywhere.”
Russia has not publicly commented on the attack.
Zelensky orders 40-day SBU “influence operation” campaign to pressure Russia
Zelensky announced last week that he had approved a 40-day Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) operation aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and pushing Moscow toward ending its war against Ukraine.
The decision followed a report by Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara on Ukraine’s long-range and mid-range “sanctions” plans, as well as the latest battlefield results of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), particularly its Center of Special Operations “Alpha.”
“I approved a 40-day influence operation for the Service against the aggressor state aimed at compelling it to end the war,” Zelensky wrote.
The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to expand its use of medium- and long-range strikes against Russian targets, including sites inside Russia and in Russian-occupied territories. Many of those operations have focused on Russia’s oil industry, a key source of revenue and logistics for Moscow’s war effort.
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