Two more Russian air defense systems gone, along with a naval plane and helicopter

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) hit 23 Russian military targets in a single overnight raid on 14–15 May, SBS commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi reported. Targets spanned Krasnodar Krai, Rostov Oblast, occupied Crimea, and occupied parts of three Ukrainian oblasts, according to him. Confirmed hits include a Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft, an ammunition cargo ship in occupied Berdiansk, and two Russian air defense systems, according to footage of the strikes, shared by Brovdi and SBS.

How Ukraine hit the Russian Yeysk airbase

SBS's 1st Separate Center destroyed the Be-200 amphibious aircraft at Yeysk, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, overnight, SBS reported. Russian forces had wrapped a nearby Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter in anti-drone netting. Ukrainian drones hit the helicopter as well. 

Telegram channel AviVector later confirmed the complete destruction of the Be-200PS using satellite imagery.

Wreckage of the Russian Be-200PS amphibious aircraft at Yeysk airbase, Krasnodar Krai, after a Ukrainian drone strike on 15 May 2026. Photo: AviVector

Yeysk airbase, on Russia's eastern coast of the Sea of Azov, hosts Russia's 859th Naval Aviation Training Center. The base has been used for Russian airstrikes against Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. 

• Ukraine's Security Service hit the same airbase in December 2025 to disable Russia's only Il-38N submarine-hunter aircraft. 
• The Be-200 was the more modern aircraft Russia still operated after Ukrainian intelligence destroyed two older Be-12 anti-submarine amphibians in occupied Crimea in September 2025.

Russian Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter under anti-drone netting in the crosshairs of a Ukrainian drone at Yeysk airbase, Krasnodar Krai, on 15 May 2026. Photo: SBS

A Pantsir in Crimea and a Tor in Luhansk Oblast

SBS's 1st Separate Center also hit a Russian Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense system near the village of Khutorok in occupied Crimea. The 427th Brigade "Raroh" of SBS struck a Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile launcher near Honcharove in Luhansk Oblast.

Russian Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile launcher in the crosshairs of a Ukrainian drone near Honcharove, Luhansk Oblast, on 15 May 2026. Photo: SBS

The two strikes brought the SBS's May tally of destroyed Russian air defense elements to 17, Brovdi said. That follows the 15 elements that the same forces destroyed in the first 14 days of May. 

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A daylight strike on a Russian ammunition ship in Berdiansk

Ukrainian drones struck a Russian cargo vessel carrying ammunition at the Berdiansk port in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian OSINT community CyberBoroshno reported the ship had been docked at berths 3 to 4 in the port. Russian mobile air defense groups attempted to interfere with the strike but failed. 

Russian cargo ship carrying ammunition moments before a Ukrainian drone strike at the port of occupied Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on 15 May 2026. Photo: SBS

Coordinated by Ukraine's Deep Strike Center

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces formalized the Deep Strike Center earlier this year to coordinate strikes on high-value Russian targets in occupied territories and inside Russia. The center also coordinated a separate strike on the Ryazan oil refinery, with Special Operations Forces and Defense Intelligence.

Drone overflights and strong explosions were also reported overnight across occupied Crimea, including over Yevpatoria, Saky, the Kacha airfield, and Cape Fiolent in Sevastopol, per RFE/RL.

153 Russian air defense units destroyed since December

From December 2025 through 15 May 2026, SBS has destroyed 153 Russian air defense elements, Brovdi said. The total includes 108 surface-to-air missile systems, 39 radars, and 6 electronic warfare complexes.