Ukrainian security officials reported that long-range drones reached Belbek Air Base near Sevastopol in Crimea. The Security Service of Ukraine said the strike hit a MiG-31 and several air-defense assets. Russian-installed officials in Sevastopol said defenses repelled the raid and reported no damage.
SBU Alpha Drones Hit Belbek Air Base and Claim MiG-31BM and S-400 Radar Damage
The Security Service of Ukraine said its Special Operations Center “A,” known as Alpha, ran the overnight strike. The agency said long-range drones hit equipment at Belbek. It described the target set as both aircraft and air-defense nodes.
The SBU said the strike hit a MiG-31 aircraft “with a full combat load.” It also listed two Nebo-SVU long-range radar detection systems. The statement named a 92N6 radar as part of the S-400 Triumf system. A Pantsir-S2 system was also listed.
The agency attached cost ranges to its claim. It put the MiG-31 at $30 million to $50 million, based on configuration and armament. It put each Nebo-SVU at $60 million to $100 million. It listed the 92N6 at $30 million on the domestic market and $60 million for export, and the Pantsir-S2 at $12 million domestic and $19 million export.
“The SBU continues its effective work to destroy air defense systems in Crimea that protect key military and logistical facilities of the occupiers. The elimination of components of this layered system significantly weakens the enemy’s defense and military capabilities in the Crimean direction”, the statement said.
Sevastopol Governor Says 11 Aerial Targets Downed as Videos Show Airfield Flashes
Sevastopol’s Russian-installed governor said air defenses and the Black Sea Fleet repelled the attack. He reported 11 aerial targets downed. He also said city services saw no damage after the alert ended.
“Силы ПВО и нашего Черноморского флота отразили атаку ВСУ. Было сбито 11 воздушных целей.” He added, “По информации Спасательной службы Севастополя, никакие объекты в городе не пострадали.” The post described continued monitoring and on-call emergency services.
Public footage tied to the event remains limited. Clips posted online showed bright flashes near the horizon and small-arms fire. The angles and distance prevent firm assessment of what took hits on the airfield. The released SBU stills show inbound drone camera views, not the final impact.
Photos tied to the Ukrainian claim show at least one radar set under camouflage or netting. That cover makes identification harder, even when the general form looks familiar. The SBU called out a 92N6, but other S-400-associated sets can appear similar in photos.
Belbek Air Base Hosts Fighters and Sensors That Cover Sevastopol and the Black Sea
Belbek sits close to Sevastopol and Russia’s major naval facilities on the peninsula. Aircraft from the base can cover approaches over the Black Sea and parts of southern Ukraine. The airfield also supports radar and surface-to-air systems that extend warning time for nearby sites.
Open-source tracking has tied Belbek to Russia’s 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment. The base has hosted several fighter types since 2022, based on imagery and reporting. It has seen periodic visits by MiG-31s, as well as other aircraft deployed for specific windows.
MiG-31 operations draw attention because the aircraft can carry very long-range air-to-air missiles. The platform is built for high-speed intercepts and wide-area patrols. When deployed forward, it can threaten aircraft far from the front line, depending on mission and support.
Belbek has been hit before, and the base has adapted. New hardened shelters appeared in imagery after earlier attacks. The Dec. 18 claim described a MiG-31 parked in the open, with both canopies raised. That detail points to ground activity near the aircraft shortly before or after the strike window.
Nebo-SVU and 92N6 Radar Loss Would Strain Crimea Air Defense Cueing and Intercepts
Nebo-SVU provides long-range air surveillance, and it can contribute early warning against some low-observable tactics. The 92N6 supports S-400 engagement functions and track refinement for missile shots. Pantsir-S2 usually guards high-value points, and it often sits near larger radar assets or command nodes.
Recent Ukrainian claims have targeted radars across Crimea, not only at Belbek. Ukrainian military intelligence reported radar strikes on the peninsula in the first half of December. Those reports named systems tied to S-400 coverage, as well as other surveillance sets used for airfield or coastal warning.
That pattern matters because radars sit at the center of layered defense. Missile launchers can relocate, but radar crews still need coverage and link paths. When a radar goes down, other sensors must fill the picture. Coverage then depends on geometry, terrain, and what remains on the air.
According to industry sources, large radar sets and their support vehicles take time to replace, even when spares exist. Crews need calibration and integration checks after any move. That work often forces a battery to operate with reduced reach until the network stabilizes again.
Defense officials confirm that both sides now treat Crimea’s sensor layer as a high-value target set. The peninsula remains a staging area for aviation, air defense, and naval support. Our analysis shows that the Belbek claim fits within a broader focus on radar attrition, not just aircraft losses.
REFERENCE SOURCES
- https://www.twz.com/air/mig-31-foxhound-among-russian-air-defense-assets-targeted-in-crimean-drone-strike
- https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-drones-hit-russian-military-equipment-worth-hundreds-of-millions-at-belbek-airfield-in-occupied-crimea-agency-reported/
- https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-crimea-strike-belbek-air-base-sevastopol-11235248
- https://militarnyi.com/en/news/ukrainian-drone-hits-fully-armed-mig-31-fighter-jet/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkirichenko/2025/10/06/ukraines-sea-drones-are-now-launching-unjammable-fiber-optic-drones/
- https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/06.missile/karte006.en.html
- https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/02.surv/karte044.en.html
- https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/ecaf2218a0caf9651baf426145150f37
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/96l6.htm
