US EditionFor First Time, Ukraine Hits 2 Russian Amphibious Aircraft in Occupied Crimea, Intelligence Claims, Shows Footage
Ukraine's 'Ghosts' unit destroyed five rare Be-12 amphibious aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter, reducing Russian naval drone countermeasures, officials said.
- Ukrainian forces struck two Russian Be-12 Chaika amphibious aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter in occupied Crimea on September 21, 2025.
- The attack, carried out by HUR's special unit Prymary, targeted these aircraft because they defend against Ukrainian naval drones amid a continuing conflict since 2022.
- The Be-12 Chaika, developed in the 1950s and in service since 1963, is a large amphibious plane originally designed to track enemy submarines and set over 40 world records.
- HUR reported this strike as the first-ever combat destruction of a Be-12, adding to previous recent losses of Russian helicopters and radar stations in Crimea valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
- This incident exposes fresh weaknesses in Russian military equipment on the peninsula and could provide Ukrainian naval drones with greater operational freedom in the Black Sea.
11 Articles
11 Articles
A video of a destroyed Russian Mi-8 helicopter in the occupied Crimea appeared on the network.
Ukraine says it destroyed two Be-12 amphibious planes and struck a Mi-8 in Crimea
On the morning of September 22, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR) said it carried out a successful strike on an airfield in occupied Crimea, destroying two Be-12 Chaika amphibious aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter. Hours later, a video appeared on a Telegram channel showing the aftermath. “They hit Crimea again. Minus helicopters and something else I can’t write about. Air defenses are absent and the radar is worthless,” the post says. In the fo…
For the first time since the start of the war, the Ukrainian forces have hit two Russian hydrogens Be-12 Chayka in the occupied Crimea, reported the Ukrainian military information service (HUR) on 22 September.
Ukraine Destroys Two Rare Russian Be-12 Chaika Amphibious Aircraft in a Historic First Strike
The HUR special unit “Ghosts” reported that on September 21, they struck a rare target—two Be-12 “Chaika” aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter. Just a day earlier, the “Ghosts” had destroyed three more such aircraft. In recent months, they have repeatedly hit valuable targets, usually air defense systems, inflicting losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, the Be-12 “Chaika” is something new. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasi…
The Ukrainian unit "Prymary" destroyed two Russian Be-12 Chayka amphibians on occupied Crimea. This attack was the first of its kind.
For first time, Ukraine hits 2 Russian amphibious aircraft in occupied Crimea, intelligence claims, shows footage
The Soviet-designed Be-12 Chayka (NATO reporting name Mail) is an anti-submarine amphibious aircraft equipped with high-value systems used for detecting and engaging submarines.
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