Ukraine's Security Service hit Russian Il-38N aircraft ahead of submarine strike, new operation details emerge
Illustrative photo: Il-38N anti-submarine aircraft (Getty Images)
During a special operation ahead of the sabotage of a Russian submarine in Novorossiysk, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck an Il-38N anti-submarine aircraft.
New details of a unique special operation carried out in the port of Novorossiysk, during which a Russian submarine was destroyed, have been released. As it emerged, a key stage of the operation was the prior disabling of the Il-38N maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which could have thwarted the attack.
While preparing the strike, officers of the 13th Main Directorate of the SBU's Military Counterintelligence Department hit a modernized Il-38N aircraft ("Sea Dragon") at the Yeysk air base. This specific aircraft had been providing maritime reconnaissance and countering the operations of Ukrainian naval drones.
The Il-38N is designed to search for submarines, monitor maritime areas, lay mines, and carry out torpedo strikes. According to the SBU, Russia had only one aircraft of this class in the Black Sea capable of detecting the Sub Sea Baby underwater drone as it moved toward its target. The estimated value of the damaged aircraft is about $24 million.
To attack the aircraft, the SBU used a modern drone with an airburst warhead equipped with 2,000 downward-directed fragmentation elements. The detonation occurred directly above the compartment housing the main equipment and radars, also damaging the aircraft's engine.
Disabling the Il-38N ensured the successful execution of the main phase of the special operation—the strike on a Russian Varshavyanka-class submarine in the port of Novorossiysk.
Footage of the attack on the aircraft released by the SBU demonstrates the real level of protection of Russia's strategic facilities, which differs significantly from the official statements and internal reports of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The SBU emphasized that it will continue to target legitimate military objectives of the enemy and deliver strikes where the adversary least expects them.
Earlier, SBU drones attacked the Russian military airfield at Belbek in temporarily occupied Crimea, hitting two Su-27 aircraft.
This marked the second successful SBU attack on Belbek airfield in recent days. On December 18, SBU drones struck Russian equipment at the airfield worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including two Nebo-SVU radar systems, a 92N6 radar from the S-400 Triumph air defense system, a Pantsir-S2 air defense system, and a MiG-31 aircraft with a full ammunition load.
