(CRIMEA) – Ukrainian drone operators have conducted a series of successful strikes against Russian naval assets and high-value military equipment in and around the occupied Crimean peninsula. Footage released by the Ukrainian military confirms that FP1 and FP2 attack drones, which have become a primary weapon for long-distance precision engagements, targeted several vessels including three Project 22460 Rubin class patrol boats. These Coast Guard ships, typically equipped with 30mm cannons or anti-submarine rocket launchers, are worth approximately 2.3 billion Russian Roubles (US$30 million) each. During the engagement, one patrol boat was struck at the bow while a second, berthed alongside, sustained damage to its bridge and radar systems. A third Project 22460 vessel was also confirmed as a target in a separate location.
The operation further extended to Russian air defence and surveillance capabilities. A significant strike was recorded against an S-400 Triumf radar system, a critical component of a battery that carries an estimated domestic cost of 39.5 billion Russian Roubles (US$500 million). Additionally, a Forpost reconnaissance and strike Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), valued at approximately 553 million Russian Roubles (US$7 million), was targeted on a Crimean runway. Although the drone appeared to impact the tarmac adjacent to the Forpost, the resulting blast is believed to have caused significant shrapnel damage. A Russian surface-to-air missile was seen failing to intercept the incoming Ukrainian drone during the approach, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in the occupation forces’ local air defences.
The maritime strikes also accounted for several smaller support and assault craft. A Project 1496M1 tug was struck on its side whilst in motion, and a BK-16 fast patrol boat—a Russian iteration of the Swedish CB90—was targeted while docked amongst four other vessels of the same class. Further hits were recorded on a secondary moving vessel, identified as a possible landing craft or light tender. In a separate engagement, a Ka-27 maritime helicopter was targeted while situated in a wooded area, though a direct hit was not confirmed. These coordinated strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s evolving ability to suppress Russian naval mobility and dismantle expensive electronic warfare and radar infrastructure within the occupied territories.
