Kyiv's daring strike in Crimea damages Russian S‑400 systems

As a result of the operation in the city of Dzhankoy in Crimea, occupied by Russia, carried out on Wednesday in the early morning, we destroyed or severely damaged, among other things, four Russian anti-aircraft and anti-missile S-400 launchers - the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported on Thursday.

The Ukrainian intelligence service emphasizes that work is ongoing to determine the exact extent of Russian losses in Dzhankoy. Among them are the number of destroyed aircraft and the extent of personnel losses among Russian soldiers.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed on Wednesday evening that the authorities conducted the operation in Crimea in Kyiv. Earlier that day, the media reported that a Russian military aviation regiment was stationed at the airport in Dzhankoy, where several explosions occurred in the morning hours.

The General Staff shared a video of the attack on Dzhankoy airport.

The airport area hosts, among others, Mi-28 and Ka-52 attack helicopters. This facility also serves as a base for the Federal Security Service (FSB) border service helicopters and a location for anti-aircraft and anti-missile S-300 and S-400 launchers.

Since August 2022, explosions have been regularly reported in Crimea. The Russian occupation authorities usually claim that the explosions are a result of anti-aircraft defence actions or the effective destruction of incoming drones. However, the Ukrainian side increasingly admits to conducting these operations.

For instance, it confirmed that representatives of the Ukrainian Security Service participated in attacks on the Crimean Bridge in October 2022 and in July 2023. In September last year, the authorities in Kyiv admitted to shelling the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol and the shipyards in that city, as well as attacking the Russian S-400 Triumph system near Yevpatoria.

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 following a military intervention and an illegal referendum. Ukraine and the West have condemned these actions by the Kremlin as a violation of international law.