Whispers of War: What's Truly Happening at Crimea's Secret Military Hub
Ukraine has reportedly intensified its efforts to degrade Russian air capabilities in occupied Crimea, executing a second successful strike within days on the strategically vital Belbek air base. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that its unmanned systems targeted the facility, resulting in the destruction of Russian military aircraft and significant damage to critical airfield infrastructure.
According to the SBU press service, the latest operation specifically targeted and destroyed two Russian Su-27 fighter jets. One of these aircraft was reportedly on a taxiway, fully armed and prepared for a combat sortie at the time of the strike. The SBU estimates the combined value of the two destroyed Su-27s to be approximately $70 million.
Beyond the aircraft losses, the SBU also confirmed damage to Belbek's air traffic control system. This disruption is expected to complicate flight coordination and operational control at the base, further hindering Russia's ability to conduct sustained air operations from the facility. Ukrainian officials emphasize that the loss of such command-and-control infrastructure significantly degrades Russia's overall air defense network in the region.
This recent attack follows an earlier strike on December 18, when SBU-operated drones hit a range of high-value Russian military assets at the same airfield. That prior operation reportedly caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to Russian equipment. Assets destroyed or damaged in the initial attack included two "Nebo-SVU" radar systems, a 92N6 radar associated with the advanced S-400 "Triumf" air defense system, a Pantsir-S2 air defense system, and a MiG-31 interceptor aircraft, which was also fully armed and ready for combat operations when struck.
The repeated successful strikes on Belbek air base underscore what Ukrainian officials describe as a sustained campaign aimed at diminishing Russia's airpower and air defense capabilities across occupied Crimea. Belbek has long served as a crucial military aviation hub for Russia in Crimea, supporting fighter, interceptor, and air defense operations throughout the Black Sea region. Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the base has undergone extensive fortification and has been fully integrated into Russia's multi-layered air defense network.
The Su-27 fighter jets, though of Soviet design, remain a core component of Russian air defense missions. Despite their age, these platforms continue to play a vital role in patrols and defensive operations over Crimea and southern Russia, making their destruction a notable blow to Moscow's aerial presence in the area.
