Ukraine's HUR Claims Eight Drone Strikes in Crimea, Targeting Su-24 Bomber and Key Military Assets

Ukrainian Intelligence Reports Extensive Drone Operations in Crimea

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, known as the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), confirmed on December 5, 2025, that its specialized drone unit, 'Prymary' (also referred to as 'Ghosts'), successfully executed a series of eight precision strikes against Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea. These operations, carried out over the preceding two weeks, reportedly targeted a range of critical assets, including a Russian Su-24 tactical bomber.

Key Russian Military Targets Hit

According to HUR's statement, the drone attacks by the Prymary unit resulted in damage or destruction to several significant Russian military targets. The confirmed list of assets hit includes:

• A Su-24 front-line bomber, a Soviet-era aircraft used for tactical strike missions.
• An Orion unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), described as a reconnaissance and combat drone.
• An antenna located inside a radio-transparent dome.
• A 39N6 Kasta-2E2 radar station, designed for detecting low-altitude targets.
• Two 48Ya6-K1 Podlet radar systems, which are part of S-300V surface-to-air missile systems and crucial for air defense.
• A Russian military cargo train, disrupting logistics.
• A Ural military truck, used for logistics.

HUR also released video footage purporting to show the drone attacks, with clips depicting drones approaching targets at low altitudes and recording explosions upon impact.

Strategic Implications for Russian Operations

The strikes are part of Ukraine's stated objective to 'methodically demilitarize' the temporarily occupied peninsula. The destruction of a Su-24 bomber, an aircraft frequently used for missile and glide-bomb attacks, aims to reduce Russia's operational aviation capabilities in Crimea. The targeting of multiple radar systems, including the Kasta-2E2 and Podlet stations, is intended to degrade Russian air defense visibility and command and control capabilities across the peninsula. Furthermore, hitting a military cargo train and a Ural truck seeks to disrupt Russian logistics and supply routes, which are vital for sustaining military operations.

Ongoing Campaign in Occupied Crimea

Crimea, illegally annexed by the Russian Federation in 2014, serves as a critical hub for Moscow's air, naval, and missile operations against Ukraine. Since 2023, Ukraine has intensified its efforts to strike Russian targets in Crimea, utilizing both airborne and maritime drones to weaken Russian military presence. These recent drone operations underscore Ukraine's continued capability to conduct long-range strikes deep behind enemy lines, aiming to dismantle Russian military infrastructure and support further offensive actions.