Ukraine Destroys Russian Helicopters and Pantsir System in Major Strike on Crimean Airbase
In the early hours of June 28, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a high-impact drone strike on the Russian military airbase “Kirovske” in temporarily occupied Crimea, destroying multiple helicopters and a key air defense system, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack, described as a special operation by the SBU, targeted aviation assets and ammunition infrastructure at the base. Among the confirmed losses are:
- an Mi-8
- a heavy-lift Mi-26
- Mi-28 attack helicopter
- Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft gun system
“Throughout the night, secondary detonations were recorded at the site,” the SBU said in a statement released to Ukrainian media and international outlets. The operation also struck air defense systems, ammunition storage, and areas used to deploy reconnaissance and strike drones.
Kirovske airbase, located east of Feodosia in Crimea, has been used by Russian forces as a logistics and aviation hub since the early stages of the full-scale invasion. Its proximity to the frontline and deep-occupied territories makes it a strategically valuable—but now increasingly vulnerable—location.
This latest strike underscores Kyiv’s growing ability to conduct precision operations against high-value Russian targets far beyond the frontline. The SBU emphasized that its ongoing campaign is aimed at systematically reducing Russia’s capacity to conduct aerial and missile attacks against Ukrainian territory.
“Russian forces must understand: their expensive military equipment and ammunition are not safe—whether at the front, in occupied territories, or deep in the rear,” the agency said.
The strike was part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian aviation assets. Just one day earlier, on June 27, Ukrainian drones reportedly damaged or destroyed four Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers at Marinovka airfield in Volgograd region. And earlier in the month, Ukraine carried out “Operation Spiderweb,” a massive drone raid that hit five Russian airbases across multiple regions, including Siberia.
These long-range strikes mark a significant evolution in Ukraine’s military strategy, demonstrating its expanding reach and its ability to pressure Russian forces far from the immediate zone of combat. The use of drones has proven to be one of Kyiv’s most effective tools in bypassing Russia’s air defense.
Video and satellite imagery in the coming days may provide additional confirmation of the extent of the damage.
As Ukraine braces for continued aerial bombardment from Russia and awaits further Western air defense support, the SBU’s operations serve both strategic and symbolic purposes: a clear reminder that no Russian target is truly out of reach.
