Ukraine’s Ghost unit claims first destruction of Be-12 amphibious planes in Crimea

Kyiv's elite Ghost unit carried out a strike on Sunday targeting Russia's Black Sea Fleet aviation assets stationed in the occupied Crimean peninsula, Ukrainian officials said. The operation, they added, destroyed two Be-12 Chaika amphibious warplanes and an Mi-8 helicopter.

HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence service, said drones conducted the attack on the base and published footage showing drones swooping over the facility and striking the Be-12 aircraft, with the assault also taking out the Mi-8 helicopter. The agency, in a post on social media, described the incident as the first-ever destruction of Be-12 aircraft in history. Independent verification of the strike could not be obtained.

This weekend’s action follows a sequence of Ukrainian strikes against Russia’s Black Sea fleet, including earlier claims of destroying three Mi-8 helicopters and a radar station operating in Crimea. In May, Kyiv said a Ukrainian drone downed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea for the first time.

The Be-12 Chaika is a Soviet-era amphibious aircraft designed to detect and attack submarines and remains in service with Russian naval aviation around the Black Sea. The assault on Crimea’s aviation assets underscores Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to degrade Moscow's aerial capabilities amid daily drone and missile pressure.

Officials have emphasized that Ukraine’s campaign in the Black Sea has grown more aggressive as Ukrainian forces adapt to Russia's drone and air-defense deployments. While Kyiv has reported success in limiting Russian aerial operations, independent confirmation of individual strikes in Crimea often remains elusive due to the fog of war and access restrictions in the region.

Analysts note the Be-12 Chaika’s primary role as a maritime patrol and submarine-detection platform, which also carries anti-submarine weapons. Its presence in Crimea’s inventory reflects Moscow's reliance on aging assets for reconnaissance and coastal defense along the Black Sea. The attack by Ukraine's Ghost unit may signal a broader strategy to pressure Russian naval aviation hubs and disrupt maintenance and readiness cycles for aircraft stationed in the region.

As Kyiv continues to stage cross-border operations and capitalize on battlefield gaps, Western officials have reiterated support for Ukraine's right to defend its coastline and critical routes. The other's side, Russia has intensified drone and air-defense activity along the affected maritime corridor, complicating the operational picture for both sides and elevating the risk of escalation in the Black Sea theater.