Ukraine Destroys Two Russian Patrol Ships And Be-12 Aircraft In Massive Drone Strike

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck and destroyed two Russian patrol ships and two military aircraft in temporarily occupied Crimea overnight on February 21, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The operation also reportedly eliminated a Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The Project 22460 vessels are fast patrol ships designed for border security and coastal defense missions.

Typically measuring around 62 meters in length and displacing approximately 630 tons, the ships are equipped with a 30mm naval gun and are used for maritime surveillance and interdiction operations.

Ukrainian officials stated that both vessels were confirmed destroyed. The Russian military has not publicly acknowledged the losses.

These ships are commonly operated by Russia’s border service under the Federal Security Service (FSB) and play a role in controlling maritime access around Crimea and the Black Sea.

The General Staff also reported that two Be-12 amphibious anti-submarine aircraft were destroyed at the Yevpatoria Aircraft Repair Plant.

The Beriev Be-12, a Soviet-era maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, has been used for coastal surveillance and submarine detection.

Though considered outdated by modern standards, the aircraft still contributes to Russia’s maritime patrol operations in the Black Sea.

Ukraine did not release video evidence of the strike. Independent verification remains difficult due to wartime restrictions.

In a separate operation near the Astrakhanka settlement in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian drones reportedly destroyed a Russian Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system while it was firing toward Ukrainian territory.

The Tornado-S is one of Russia’s most advanced heavy rocket artillery systems, capable of striking targets at distances exceeding 100 kilometers. Its destruction reduces Russia’s long-range strike capability in southern Ukraine.

Crimea remains a central logistics and naval hub for Russia’s Black Sea operations. Since 2014, Moscow has expanded military infrastructure across the peninsula to support naval, air, and missile units.

The Black Sea is a vital maritime trade route. Before the war, Ukraine exported tens of millions of tonnes of grain annually through Black Sea ports.

Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones and maritime unmanned systems to target Russian assets in Crimea and the Black Sea Fleet.

Over the past year, several Russian naval vessels have been damaged or sunk in similar operations, altering Russia’s operational posture in the region.

References: newsukraine, defence express

Source: Maritime Shipping News