Ukraine’s military intelligence has carried out another precision strike against Russian aviation assets in occupied Crimea, targeting both a MiG-29 fighter jet and a radar installation during a nighttime operation.
According to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, a long-range armed drone hit a Russian MiG-29 positioned at Kacha airfield near Sevastopol. The strike was executed by the “Prymari” (Ghosts) special-operations unit of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). The aircraft was reportedly parked on the apron when it was struck.
During the same mission, Ukrainian operators also attacked an “Irtysh” airfield radar complex near Russian-controlled Simferopol, damaging equipment responsible for supporting local air-defense coverage and flight-control functions.
GUR stated, as quoted by Militarnyi:
“Special units of the GUR continue systematic efforts to weaken the occupiers’ air-defense network across the temporarily occupied peninsula—destroying radars, anti-aircraft systems, and now combat aircraft.”
Ukraine has previously hit Russian fighter jets in Crimea. An ATACMS strike in May 2024 targeted Belbek airbase, damaging or destroying MiG-31, Su-27, and MiG-29 aircraft.
Throughout 2025, Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones—built domestically and guided via satellite or encrypted links—to penetrate Russian air defenses and strike high-value targets deeper inside occupied territory. These systems have enabled attacks on command posts, radar nodes, and hardened airbases that were once considered difficult to reach.
The latest operation reflects a broader strategy to degrade Russian radar coverage, disrupt command-and-control infrastructure, and reduce the number of combat aircraft available for missions over Crimea. By striking both the MiG-29 and the Irtysh radar system in one night, Ukraine sought to limit Russia’s ability to detect and respond to subsequent attacks.
The MiG-29, a twin-engine Soviet-era fighter still used by Russia for air-defense and patrol missions over Crimea, plays a key role in rapid-reaction alert duties. Its loss further impacts Russia’s operational readiness on the peninsula.
