The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the loss of a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet at the Belbek airfield in Crimea, in an operation carried out using unmanned systems.
According to the Ukrainian agency, the operation took place on the night of June 25 to 26, 2026, in territory of Crimea currently under Russian control. The target was hit by a drone operated by teams from the Unmanned Systems Department of Ukrainian military intelligence.
According to the statement released by the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the action resulted in the neutralization of a MiG-29 fighter jet. In the same attack, ground support equipment used to service military aircraft at the airfield was also reportedly hit.
Ukrainian intelligence also said the combined damage to the fighter jet and support equipment could reach tens of millions of dollars. A video attributed to the operation was released by Ukrainian authorities.
The importance of Belbek airfield
Belbek airfield, located near Sevastopol, is considered one of Crimea’s most relevant air facilities for Russian military aviation. The base has already appeared in other episodes linked to long-range attacks against military infrastructure on the peninsula.
The potential loss of an aircraft on the ground has an impact that goes beyond the financial value of the equipment. For air forces, parked fighter jets, maintenance structures, support vehicles and operational runways form a critical system. When one of these elements is compromised, the ability to generate sorties, maintain readiness and reposition aircraft can be affected.
The role of the MiG-29
The MiG-29 is a fourth-generation fighter developed during the Soviet era. Although it was originally designed with a focus on air superiority and interception, the model can also carry out air-to-surface missions, depending on the version, integrated weapons and operational profile.
In the current war, aircraft of this type remain relevant mainly because of their availability, speed, reaction capability and use in regional air defense missions. At the same time, as platforms with decades of service, their maintenance, modernization and preservation at forward bases have become sensitive factors.
Growing use of drones against high-value targets
The action at Belbek reinforces a trend observed in the conflict: the use of drones against high-value military targets, including aircraft, radars, depots, air defense systems and support facilities.
Even when they do not replace missiles or manned aircraft, unmanned systems offer operational flexibility, lower relative cost and the possibility of striking sensitive points behind the line of contact. For airfields, this increases pressure on passive protection measures, aircraft dispersal, camouflage, point defense and constant surveillance.
Crimea remains a strategic axis
Crimea remains one of the main strategic axes of the war. The peninsula hosts military infrastructure, air bases, naval facilities, logistics routes and defense systems that support part of Russian operations in southern Ukraine and the Black Sea.
Attacks against airfields such as Belbek, Saki and Hvardiyske indicate that Ukraine is seeking to limit the freedom of operation of Russian aviation in the region. According to previous reports, military facilities in Crimea have already been targeted by other Ukrainian actions involving drones and long-range munitions.
The confirmation of the loss of a MiG-29 at Belbek, if fully verified by independent imagery, would represent another episode in the dispute over air capability in the region — a front where technology, intelligence and infrastructure protection carry increasing weight.
Source and images: Telegram @war_home | Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
