Recently, special forces of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate carried out another successful operation in temporarily occupied Crimea. What made this mission particularly remarkable was that Ukrainian intelligence operatives managed, for the first time in history, to destroy two Russian Be-12 “Chaika” amphibious aircraft. These planes are designed for anti-submarine warfare, making their destruction a significant step in weakening the enemy’s aviation capabilities on the peninsula.
The Be-12 “Chaika” is a high-value aircraft equipped with specialized systems for detecting and engaging enemy submarines. Its destruction dealt a significant blow to Russia, especially considering that relatively few of these planes remain in the aggressor’s inventory.
The Be-12 “Chaika” can reach a maximum speed of 530 km/h, has an operational range of around 3,300 km, and can carry up to 1,500 kg of combat payload on external hardpoints, including aerial bombs, depth charges, and torpedoes.
But the successes of Ukraine’s GUR special forces unit “Phantoms” didn’t stop there. They further reduced the Russian occupiers’ aviation capabilities in temporarily occupied Crimea by striking three enemy Mi-8 multirole helicopters. In addition, a strike was carried out on the Russian 55Zh6U “Nebo-U” radar station, which held strategic importance for the occupiers’ air defense network.
As a result, the occupiers’ aviation losses in Crimea have increased once again. At the conclusion of the operation, the soldiers shared an additional shot showing the charred wreckage of one of the destroyed enemy Mi-8 helicopters.
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Source: gur
