On Thursday, Ukraine’s National Guard announced that its Omega unit used attack drones to destroy a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saky air base in occupied Crimea. Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko detailed how the first drone hit the nose and a second struck the fuel tank, with drone footage showing the impacts amid heavy jamming.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has lost more than 34 Su-35 fighter jets, 84 Su-24 fighter jets, 75 Su-25 fighter jets, 41 MiG-31M fighter-bombers, 55 Su-30 Fighter Jets, 22 Su-30SM fighter jets, and 94 Su-27 fighter jets. These losses in combination of accidents and direct combat losses.
Losing these pilots was more troublesome for Russia than the aircraft themselves, as Russia was losing manpower at a faster pace, losing more than 1.5 million in any other war since WWII.
The strike at Novofedorivka airfield, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet aviation, highlights Ukraine’s growing ability to target high-value assets over 180 kilometers from the front lines. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented, while experts confirmed the precision of the Ukrainian Hornet drone.
The aircraft was preparing for takeoff
Ukrainian special forces from the Omega Special Purpose Center of the National Guard destroyed a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saky military airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea, according to the National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko.
How the operation unfolded
The successful operation was carried out by combat divers from the Omega Special Purpose Center. According to Pivnenko, careful planning was conducted after identifying a high-priority target.
Omega strike drones attacked at the moment the Su-24M was preparing for a combat sortie to carry out further strikes on Ukrainian territory.
The first drone hit the aircraft’s nose section.
A second drone then struck the fuel tank area, ensuring the total destruction of the bomber.
According to Pivnenko, the National Guard is steadily expanding its ability to conduct long-range drone strikes deep behind enemy lines.
Units of the National Guard’s 1st Azov Corps and 2nd Khartiia Corps are also carrying out combat missions at distances exceeding 100 kilometers.
Such strikes weaken Russia’s combat capabilities, disrupt its logistics network, and force the enemy to divert resources to protect rear areas.
“Our work continues. The list of priority enemy targets is constantly being updated,” Pivnenko said.
The Saky airbase in occupied Crimea is one of Russia’s key military aviation bases, regularly used to launch aircraft for strikes against Ukraine.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted the airbase. On the night of July 1, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) drones struck hangars housing Su-30 fighter jets at Saky airbase.
On July 3, the SBU launched another attack on the airbase, hitting seven aircraft hangars containing Su-30SM and Su-30 fighter jets, as well as Su-24M bombers.
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