Ukrainian drones struck a Russian Ka-27 naval helicopter and an Iskander missile storage site in occupied Crimea overnight on 17 February, while video emerged of a separate strike destroying an S-300VM air defense launcher near occupied Mariupol. Ukraine's General Staff, Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), and Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported hits across occupied territories and Russia, targeting troop concentrations, logistics, a communications node, and drone control points.
Ka-27 helicopter and other military sites struck in occupied Crimea
Ukrainian forces hit a Russian shipborne Ka-27 helicopter near Kamyshly in Bakhchysarai district of occupied Crimea overnight on 17 February, the General Staff reported. The military confirmed a direct hit and shared a thermal still from the drone's view moments before the strike.
The Ka-27 is a rare naval multirole helicopter the Russian Black Sea Fleet uses for maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and detecting Ukrainian naval drones and landing craft. Russia has lost only a handful of Ka-27s throughout the full-scale war, with a previous confirmed loss in Crimea in April 2024 and one destroyed by a military intelligence drone strike in November 2025.
Separately, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported that their FP-2 drones struck an Iskander operational-tactical missile system storage site in the village of Pasichne in occupied Crimea. The SSO said powerful explosions were recorded at the point of impact.
Additionally, Sevastopol's Russian-installed head Mikhail Razvozhaev called the night "one of the longest attacks on Sevastopol recently," claiming air defenses and the Black Sea Fleet intercepted over 24 drones. It remains unclear if any targets were struck in the Sevastopol area.
S-300VM launcher destroyed near Mariupol
Several Ukrainian sources shared a video showing the SBS' 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces striking a Russian S-300VM air defense launcher near occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast.
At the time of publication, the video had not appeared on the official channels of the Center or the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS).
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Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ had earlier reported fires near Mariupol's port area overnight.
The S-300VM is one of Russia's scarcer air defense systems, originally designed to intercept ballistic missiles rather than drones. Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian air defense assets in occupied territories, including a strike on the S-300V system's engagement radar in Donetsk Oblast in January 2026.
Strikes on troop concentrations, logistics, drone control centers
The General Staff also reported strikes on Russian troop concentration areas near Rozivka and Liubymivka in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian forces hit logistics warehouses in Donetsk and near Lidyne in occupied Donetsk Oblast. A communications node of Russia's 127th motorized rifle division was struck near Zelenopil in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The GenStaff says the Ukrainian forces also srtuck three Russian UAV control points: near Huliaipole in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, near Anatoliivka in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and near Zatyshshia in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the General Staff reported. The GenStaff, however, didn't specify if these strikes involved drones.
The SSO also reported destroying a remote piloting point of Russia's Rubikon unit in the village of Vysoke in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, with several drones hitting the target. Overall, SSO units reportedly struck more than 10 Russian military targets in occupied territories between 9 and 14 February, including personnel concentration areas, ammunition and fuel depots, and military vehicle parking sites, the SSO said.
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Ilsky oil refinery strike confirmed
The General Staff separately confirmed a strike on the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai overnight on 17 February, reporting a hit followed by a fire at the facility. The Unmanned Systems Forces said operators from the 1st Separate Center carried out the strike in coordination with other defense force units.
