Ukraine’s Late-August Deep-Strike Campaign Hits Russian Air Assets, Drone Relays and Key Industrial Sites

On August 22, 2026, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Su-24M combat aircraft and four pieces of airfield equipment at the Saky military airfield in Crimea. The same statement confirmed the elimination of drone-control relay stations in Russia’s Bryansk region, used to guide UAVs toward Ukrainian targets.

United24 Media

In the preceding 24 hours, Ukraine also struck the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region, a logistics hub belonging to the e-commerce firm Ozon, and conducted operations in the Black Sea.

Ukraine Destroys Su-24M at Saky, Hits Primorsko-Akhtarsk Airfield

Since early 2022, Ukraine has employed domestically produced long-range drones to target Russian military infrastructure far behind the front line, aiming to erode Russia’s logistical and industrial base.

Kyiv Independent

• August 20, 2026 – Ukrainian drones damaged a Su-34 fighter-bomber and caused a fuel spill at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Astrakhan.

Su-34 damaged at Russia’s Akhtubinsk airfield after Ukrainian strike – General Staff

• August 21, 2026 – Night-time attacks hit the Perm oil refinery (Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez) and the Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd.

Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Lukoil Refinery, Military Airfield as Russia Claims 325 UAVs Downed

• August 22, 2026 – The Saky airfield strike destroyed the Su-24M; simultaneous attacks neutralised drone-relay stations in Bryansk and struck the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, the Ozon logistics hub, and targets in the Black Sea.

United24 Media

• Aircraft destroyed/damaged: 1 Su-24M (Saky); 1 Su-34 (Akhtubinsk).

Su-34 damaged at Russia’s Akhtubinsk airfield after Ukrainian strike – General Staff

• Equipment seized: 4 airfield devices (Saky).

United24 Media

• Drone-relay assets: multiple stations in Bryansk eliminated.

United24 Media

• Oil refinery capacity: Novokuybyshevsk – ? 8.8 million t/yr; Perm – 12.6 million t/yr (2024).

Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Lukoil Refinery, Military Airfield as Russia Claims 325 UAVs Downed

• Logistics hub: Ozon fulfillment centre – 75,000 m².

Ukraine Destroys Su-24M at Saky, Hits Primorsko-Akhtarsk Airfield

• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released damage assessments confirming the Su-24M loss, the Bryansk relay stations, radar damage at Primorsko-Akhtarsk airfield, and the destruction of 18 UAV-storage warehouses.

The attack on the Perm oil refinery and the «Marinovka» airfield: the consequences

• Russian state media (Astra Telegram) reported visible smoke at the Yeysk seaport after a drone strike; the Supernova+ channel noted a possible vessel fire.

Ukraine Destroys Su-24M at Saky, Hits Primorsko-Akhtarsk Airfield

• The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 325 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, a figure not independently verified.

Kyiv Independent

• “Ukrainian long-range sanctions continue to limit Russia’s military and economic potential, ensuring the aggressor state feels the impact of the war more directly.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president

United24 Media

• Ukrainian sources describe a large fire at the Perm refinery, but Russian authorities have not released an official damage assessment.

Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Lukoil Refinery, Military Airfield as Russia Claims 325 UAVs Downed

• The claim of 325 drones downed lacks independent verification.

A Su-24M and four pieces of equipment were destroyed at the Saky airfield - Zelenskyy

The strikes show Ukraine’s ability to hit air combat assets and critical economic infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, increasing the operational cost of Russia’s war effort.

Kyiv Independent

Ukrainian officials say long-range drone operations will continue, though no specific future dates or targets have been disclosed.

Kyiv Independent