(YEVPATORIA, CRIMEA) – Ukrainian defence forces struck hangars in Yevpatoria where Russian troops stored and maintained Forpost and Orion multi purpose drones. The attack took place on 27 February and targeted the territory of the Yevpatoria aviation repair plant, where Russian forces keep and service these unmanned systems.
Satellite images taken after the strike show damage to at least three hangars. Published images indicate that the weapons, likely kamikaze drones, pierced the roofs of the buildings and may have penetrated inside. The full extent of internal damage is not yet known.
This was not the first time the facility had been targeted by Ukrainian long range drones. On 21 February it was also struck. At that time, two Beriev Be 12 anti submarine aircraft were reported to have been hit. The site has previously housed Orion type drones, and a similar strike was carried out on the Kirovske airfield in November 2025.
Russian forces use Forpost and Orion drones to monitor the coastal zone of Crimea and to detect and destroy Ukrainian naval drones, which regularly conduct raids against military facilities on the peninsula and in the Kuban region.
The Russian Orion reconnaissance and strike drone has a wingspan of about 16 metres and a length of about 8 metres. Its maximum take off weight is approximately 1.2 tonnes, with a payload capacity of up to 200 kilograms. Its estimated flight range is between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometres. It can remain airborne for up to 24 hours and reach altitudes of up to 7 kilometres. The drone can carry various types of weapons, with up to four external hardpoints for guided missiles and guided aerial bombs. It is also used as a launch platform for the S8000 Banderol small cruise missile.
Development of the Orion UAV began in 2011 by the Kronstadt Group. The first prototype was produced in 2015. In April 2020, initial strike drones were handed over for trial operation. In August that year, a contract was signed to begin serial production.
The Forpost reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle operates at the operational tactical level and is based on the Israeli Searcher Mark II UAV, later localised in Russia. It has a wingspan of about 8.5 metres, a length of roughly 5.8 metres and a maximum take off weight of around 500 kilograms. Its payload capacity reaches up to 100 kilograms depending on configuration. The system’s operational range can exceed 250 kilometres from its ground control station. Flight duration is between 16 and 18 hours, with an operating altitude of up to 5 to 6 kilometres.
The basic Forpost variant was designed for aerial reconnaissance, artillery fire correction and surveillance. The upgraded Forpost R version can carry weapons, including small guided aerial munitions mounted on two underwing hardpoints. Licensed assembly of the Forpost in Russia began in the early 2000s at the Ural Civil Aviation Plant. After the cessation of military technical cooperation with Israel, Russian authorities announced full localisation of production and development of an upgraded version using domestic components.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the United States Central Command released footage it said showed a decisive American air strike in the Gulf of Oman. According to the statement, US forces destroyed 11 Iranian vessels operating in the area, leaving Tehran with no remaining ships in that specific maritime zone.
The announcement marked a significant escalation in tensions following reports of the death of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and signalled that Washington was prepared to assert direct military dominance at sea.
US Central Command said the operation responded to what it described as decades of Iranian harassment of international shipping. Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of threatening freedom of navigation through tanker seizures and drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The command stated that US forces would continue to defend maritime trade routes and ensure the uninterrupted flow of global commerce.
The Gulf of Oman and the nearby Strait of Hormuz remain strategic choke points through which a substantial share of global oil exports passes.
Footage circulating online appeared to show a Kuwaiti resident approaching a United States F 15 fighter jet pilot moments after he ejected and parachuted to the ground. Bystanders were seen recording and confronting the pilot as he landed safely after reports that his aircraft had been downed.
Tehran presented a different account of events. Iranian officials said they had launched a large scale retaliation in response to Khamenei’s reported death. Iranian sources claimed that 560 American soldiers had been killed and 14 US military bases destroyed in coordinated strikes. They further alleged that facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain were obliterated and that four missiles were fired at the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
There has been no independent confirmation of the scale of destruction described by Iran, and Washington has not acknowledged losses on the level claimed by Tehran. The divergence between official statements highlights the information war unfolding alongside active military operations. Both sides appear to be shaping narratives for domestic audiences, regional partners and the wider international community.
It has been confirmed that the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was attacked by four cruise missiles. Following the assault, the vessel departed its mission area and headed towards the south east Indian Ocean.
The United States Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait was reported to have been rendered inoperable following recent attacks. Three US naval infrastructure facilities at Mohammed Al Ahmad in Kuwait were also reported destroyed. The US naval base in Salman Port, Bahrain, was reportedly struck by four drones, causing extensive damage to command and support centres.
Following attacks on maritime targets, three oil tankers belonging to the United States and the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly hit by missiles and left burning. American military positions in Bahrain were attacked with two ballistic missiles, and other US bases in the region faced repeated assaults. Iranian sources claimed that these attacks resulted in 560 American military personnel killed or injured, though these figures remain unverified.
Additional footage referenced rescue operations, stating that six rescues had been carried out in six days.
