Omega special forces say drone strike hit Russian Su-24 in Crimea
Ukrainian National Guard combat divers successfully targeted and destroyed a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber stationed at the Saky airfield in Crimea. The operation highlights Kyiv's ongoing campaign to neutralize high-value aviation assets deep behind enemy lines.
Ukrainian military forces have reported the destruction of a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber stationed at the Saky air base in occupied Crimea. The operation, which involved the use of drones, was conducted by the Omega Special Purpose Center, a unit operating under the National Guard of Ukraine. The strike marks a continued effort by Kyiv to target high-value aviation assets within the peninsula, a region frequently used by Moscow to stage aerial assaults on Ukrainian territory.
According to Major General Oleksandr Pivnenko, commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, the operation was executed by combat divers assigned to the Omega unit. Planning for the mission commenced once the aircraft was identified as a priority target. The strike occurred while the bomber was preparing for a combat sortie. Official accounts describe a two-stage drone attack: the first unmanned aerial vehicle struck the nose section of the aircraft, while a second drone targeted the fuel tank area, resulting in the destruction of the bomber.
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The Su-24M is a modernized iteration of the Soviet-era supersonic frontline bomber. Moscow has relied on the aircraft throughout the full-scale invasion to launch both guided and unguided munitions against ground targets. The Saky airfield, situated on the western coast of Crimea, remains a critical hub for Russian military aviation and has been the site of multiple Ukrainian strikes over the course of the conflict.
The claims of the strike on the Su-24M follow a broader series of operations in the region. Separately, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has reported that its "Prymary" drone unit recently destroyed a range of assets in Crimea, including radar stations, an Orion unmanned aerial vehicle, and logistics infrastructure, as part of a stated campaign of "methodical demilitarization."
Recent Developments in Crimean Aerial Warfare
- July 1: SBU drones targeted hangars housing Su-30 fighter jets at the Saky air base.
- July 3: A follow-up SBU attack hit seven hangars at the same facility, impacting both Su-30SM fighters and Su-24 bombers.
- July 16: Omega special forces reported the destruction of an additional Su-24M bomber at the same location.
General Pivnenko noted that the National Guard is systematically increasing its capacity to conduct precision strikes at significant operational depths. He indicated that units such as the 1st Azov Corps and 2nd Khartiia Corps are currently executing missions at ranges exceeding 100 kilometers. These operations, he suggested, serve to weaken Russian combat capabilities, disrupt logistics, and force the redeployment of defensive resources within the Russian rear.
While the Omega unit’s report provided specific tactical details regarding the bomber’s destruction, the claims could not be independently verified by external news organizations. The strike occurred against a backdrop of significant domestic political upheaval in Ukraine. On July 16, widespread protests emerged in Kyiv and other cities following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Demonstrators and various civil society figures argued that Fedorov was instrumental in modernizing the military’s technological approach to the war, including the oversight of drone strike programs.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 16 said he had appointed acting Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Yevhen Khmara as acting defense minister. Khmara previously led the agency's Alpha Special Operations Center. Zelensky said he had discussed Ukraine's long-range strike campaign against Russia and support for the country's security and defense forces with Khmara.
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