Ukraine's forces strike Russian military airfield in Rostov, hits six aircraft and helicopters

According to the president, the SBU successfully hit three Russian aircraft and three helicopters.

“The Security Service worked precisely against the military airfield in Rostov — the destruction of an An-12 aircraft, two An-26s and three more helicopters has been confirmed,” he said.

Moreover, the Security Service said new strikes hit the Yaroslavl Oil Refinery last night as part of a joint operation involving the SBU, the Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), and the Foreign Intelligence Service.

I thank our warriors, who make Russia feel the war every day. Last night, in a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Yaroslavl oil refinery was hit. The… pic.twitter.com/lQM7MrpBA3

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 17, 2026

Zelenskyy also announced successful results in the Black Sea, but did not provide any details.

“I thank our warriors who make the war felt in Russia every day... We respond to aggression every day. Russia must choose peace,” Zelenskyy concluded.

The SBU clarified that the target was the Russian Rostov-Central military airfield.

This time, long-range drones operated by the SBU’s Special Operations Center Alpha successfully reached the enemy aircraft.

“A massive fire with secondary detonations broke out in the aircraft and helicopter parking area,” the SBU press service said.

It should be recalled that overnight on September 17, Ukraine struck 20 Russian regions with hundreds of drones.

We also reported how Ukrainian forces hit a Russian Su-24 in Crimea and some other Russian military targets.