russian An-26 military transport aircraft was destroyed at the Kacha air base near Sevastopol in temporarily occupied Crimea, according to multiple Ukrainian and russian Telegram channels. The strike marks another significant blow to russian aviation infrastructure on the peninsula, which has seen a growing number of Ukrainian precision attacks in recent months.
Initial reports suggest the An-26 aircraft was hit by Ukrainian drone while it was on the ground at the airfield. Although details remain limited, the strike appears to have been part of a coordinated operation targeting assets at one of russia’s key military facilities in Crimea.
Telegram channels reporting from the scene claim there were casualties among russian personnel. According to early information, those killed or wounded may include members of the aircraft’s crew or ground service staff who were near the transport plane at the time of the explosion.
russian An-26 aircraft / open source
The An-26, a twin-engine turboprop, is widely used by russia for logistics, troop transport, and airborne support. Its destruction at a frontline-adjacent facility further strains Moscow’s already degraded ability to move personnel and equipment across occupied territories.
The attack was also acknowledged by the Atesh partisan movement, which confirmed its involvement in supporting the operation. Members of the resistance group stated that they provided intelligence and assistance to Ukrainian forces to enable the strike.
As Defense Express previously reported, drone operators of the Khartiia 13th Brigade recently carried out an unusual rescue mission near their frontline positions, saving five puppies trapped in a dangerous area. What began as routine preparation for a combat sortie ended with a compassionate evacuation made possible by a ground robotic platform, a reminder that even in war, humanity persists.
Ukrainian drone operators turned a routine combat assignment into a compassionate rescue after discovering five trapped puppies near their positions / screenshot from videoRead more: From Combat to Compassion: Ukrainian Fighters Evacuate Puppies Using Robotic Platform (Video)