UAV event in Kerch, Zatoka Shipyard area, Ukraine on Fri 26th June 2026

The Security Service of Ukraine announced a successful special operation in occupied Kerch , during which drones hit two Russian military vessels, a ferry, and elements of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. According to the agency, a large-scale fire broke out on the ships after the strikes.

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine on June 26.

"Fulfilling the tasks set by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky as part of the 40-day operation to influence the Russian Federation, the SBU's Alpha soldiers successfully struck military support vessels located on the territory of the Zatoka shipyard in temporarily occupied Kerch. Air defense systems of Russian troops in the Kerch Strait area were also hit," the report says.

The SBU stated that during the special operation, drones struck the Project 15310 cable ships "Volga" and "Vyatka", as well as the cargo-passenger ferry "Petropavlovsk", which was 96% ready. As a result of the strikes on them, a large-scale fire broke out.

"Volga" and "Vyatka" were built for the Russian Ministry of Defense. Their purpose is to deploy the "Harmony" hydroacoustic surveillance system for underwater military reconnaissance. In addition, they can lay non-contact mines to damage ships, underwater pipelines, cables and other critical infrastructure. The cost of each of these vessels is hundreds of millions of dollars," the SBU explained.

In addition, according to the SBU, drones hit the weapons and radar station of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, which covered the Kerch Strait area.

"The systematic work of the SBU to destroy Russian military infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea deprives the enemy of the opportunity to use the peninsula as a logistical and military hub. The destruction of air defense assets opens the way for new high-precision strikes, and the disabling of ships and port infrastructure undermines the ability of the occupiers to provide for their group," the department added.

Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine on increasing the use of UAVs at the front, Serhiy Sternenko, previously reported that in occupied Kerch, as a result of attacks by the Defense Forces, a fire is raging in the area of ​​the deployment of air defense assets and the Russian airfield.

The monitoring Telegram channel "Crimean Wind" also reports on explosions this night in the area of ​​occupied Kerch, Yana Kapu (Krasnoperekopsk), Perekopsky, and Yevpatoria districts .

According to satellite images, there is a fire in Kerch at a former airfield where the Russians installed air defense facilities.

The occupiers closed the illegal crossing across the Kerch Strait — the Crimean Bridge — on the night of June 25-26 from 11:50 p.m. to 6:14 a.m.