Drone Attack Targets Occupied Crimea Airfields
For the second time in seven days, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launched a drone strike on July 3 against the Saky and Gvardiiske airfields in Russian-occupied Crimea. The assault hit seven hangars at Saky that housed aircraft, including Su-30SM, Su-30, and Su-24 fighter jets and frontline bombers. Early assessments indicate at least seven planes were either destroyed or damaged.
Operation and Its Consequences
This strike is part of a broader 40-day campaign ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pressure Russia. At the Gvardiiske airfield, two hangars containing Shahed drones and aviation equipment were also hit.
“The SBU continues to carry out the tasks set by the President of Ukraine and systematically reduce Russia’s military potential. Each of our special operations means fewer enemy aircraft, logistics, warehouses, equipment, and infrastructure that support Russian aggression. We will keep pressuring the enemy as much as possible, both on the front line and deep in the rear, stripping them of the ability to wage war against Ukraine.” - Yevhenii Khmara
The types of aircraft targeted include:
- Su-30SM
- Su-30
- Su-24
In total, seven hangars were struck at the Saky airfield and two at Gvardiiske. The estimated number of destroyed or damaged aircraft stands at seven.
These attacks highlight Ukraine’s ongoing military campaign against Russia, with significant implications for the strategic balance in the region. By destroying enemy aviation assets, Ukraine complicates Russia’s combat capabilities and demonstrates a systematic approach to reducing the aggressor’s military power through targeted operations. Such actions are likely to play a key role in shaping the conflict’s trajectory and the strategies of both sides going forward.
This recent drone strike is not an isolated event; it follows a previous successful operation targeting Russian assets at the same airbase. For more details on how Ukraine's Security Service effectively neutralized key fighter jets, including the Su-30, at the Saky airfield, check out our article on the destruction of Su-30 fighter jets.