The night of June 24 became a time of large-scale sabotage operations for occupied Crimea. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out a special operation that resulted in strikes on key military infrastructure objects on the peninsula. Air defense systems in the Kerch area, as well as facilities at two strategically important military airfields — "Saki" and "Gvardeyskoye" — were targeted.
Devastation of aviation infrastructure
Particular attention during the operation was paid to the "Saki" airfield. According to preliminary data received from the intelligence service, four hangars intended for storing aviation equipment were destroyed on the base. The destruction of such objects causes serious damage to the logistics and combat readiness of Russian aviation in the region.
Simultaneously, residents in the area of the village of Shafranoye, located near the "Gvardeyskoye" airfield, recorded a large fire. This area is known for being used by Russian troops as a training ground for launching "Shahed" attack drones (known in the West as "Geran"). Strikes on this infrastructure are aimed at depriving the enemy of the ability to mass deploy drones.
Strikes on air defense systems
A key result of the operation was the strikes on air defense systems near Kerch. The SBU reported that another surface-to-air missile system was hit. Notably, this is the fourth "Pantsir-S1" complex destroyed by the "Alpha" special unit in this area in recent times.
"Russian occupiers are losing control over the skies of Crimea. Every destroyed air defense complex and every damaged military airfield opens up new opportunities for further Ukrainian strikes," the official statement of the intelligence service reads. The systematic disabling of "Pantsir" systems creates corridors for the penetration of attack drones and missiles deep into the peninsula.
Consequences for the population and infrastructure
The night was restless not only for military objects. The most serious consequences of the attack were recorded in Sevastopol. The Balaklava Thermal Power Plant (TPP) was hit. The incident led to widespread power outages in the city, and the occupation authorities were forced to introduce a special operating mode for utility services.
Events in Crimea took place against a backdrop of general tension. During this same period, Russian sources reported a massive drone attack on the territory of the Russian Federation. According to data, more than 300 drones attacked about 20 regions of the country, indicating the large-scale nature of Ukrainian forces' actions during this period.