Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) said they carried out a series of coordinated overnight strikes on Russian military facilities and occupied territories, hitting aircraft, air defense systems, logistics hubs and naval assets.
According to USF commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, the operation involved 55 confirmed strikes on 23 Russian military targets overnight on May 15.
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Where were the strikes carried out?
Brovdi said the attacks targeted areas in Russia’s Taganrog and Yeysk, occupied Crimea, as well as facilities in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk regions. Strikes were also reported in occupied Berdyansk and Melitopol.
What was hit?
Among the confirmed targets were:
- A Be-200 amphibious aircraft in Morskoy (Russia)
- A Ka-27 naval helicopter in the same area
- A Tor-M2 air defense system in the Luhansk region
- A Pantsir-S1 air defense system in Crimea
- A cargo ship carrying ammunition in Berdyansk
- A Russian training center and logistics facility in Luhansk region
What is the Be-200 aircraft?
The Be-200 Altair is a Russian amphibious aircraft capable of taking off from both land and water. It is powered by two D-436T turbojet engines, reaches speeds of up to 720 km/h and has a range of up to 3,850 km.
It is used for firefighting, search and rescue, environmental missions and transport operations. In transport configuration, it can carry up to 72 passengers or up to 12 tons of water for firefighting.
What is the Ka-27 helicopter?
The Ka-27 is a Soviet-era naval helicopter developed in the 1980s, primarily used for anti-submarine warfare. It can detect submarines at depths of up to 500 meters and at ranges of up to 200 km from its carrier ship.
It has a maximum speed of around 270 km/h and an operational range of 800–900 km. The helicopter can operate both from ships and coastal airfields.
Other Topics of Interest
Kyiv’s Drone War Punches Holes in Russia’s Air Defense Shield – Der Spiegel
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian air defenses, reportedly doubling destroyed systems compared to late 2025. The attacks are weakening frontline logistics and exposing Russia’s rear infrastructure, while deep strikes hit refineries and industry. Analysts say expanding gaps in air defense are slowing Russian advances and stretching defensive coverage.
In 2024, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet used Ka-27 helicopters to track Ukrainian naval drones and landing craft, with aircraft based at Kacha airfield in Crimea.
Air defense losses
Brovdi said the destroyed Tor and Pantsir systems marked the 16th and 17th Russian air defense assets eliminated by USF between May 1 and May 15 alone.
He added that since the start of the campaign in December, Ukraine has destroyed 153 Russian air defense systems, including:
- 108 missile systems
- 39 radar stations
- 6 electronic warfare systems
Ryazan oil refinery strike
Brovdi also confirmed a separate strike on the Ryazan oil refinery, carried out jointly with Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) and the military’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR).
“A separate mass courtesy visit was made to the Ryazan Oil Refinery in conjunction with deep-attack units,” he wrote, adding that “the Kremlin’s refueling unit is following the Tuapse track.”
A large-scale drone attack overnight triggered a major fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest fuel production facilities, according to local residents and Russian monitoring channels.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said air defense and electronic warfare units intercepted several drones, but acknowledged that falling debris sparked a fire at an industrial site.
The Rosneft-operated refinery, about 460 km from Ukraine’s border, processes up to 17.1 million tons of crude oil annually and is a key part of Russia’s fuel supply chain.
The strike followed another drone attack on energy infrastructure. On Thursday, Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas plant halted fuel production after a fire damaged key processing units, with repairs expected to take weeks or months.
Further explosions were reported in Bryansk, Taganrog and Yeysk, where smoke was seen near a military airfield used by Russia’s 859th Naval Aviation Training Center. Drone alerts also briefly disrupted air traffic near Moscow, prompting temporary restrictions at Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports.
