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The Air War in Ukraine - Drones Destroy Aircraft on the Ground

In this installment of the series, we take a closer look at the period from September 1 to September 30, 2026. During this time, Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukrainian cities continued, particularly against Kyiv. However, there were no aerial engagements. Instead, drones on both sides focused on destroying aircraft directly at their airbases.

Miro Barič
Drones Destroy Aircraft on the Ground
In this installment of the series, we take a closer look at the period from September 1
to September 30, 2026. During this time, Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukrainian
cities continued, particularly against Kyiv. However, there were no aerial engagements.
Instead, drones on both sides focused on destroying aircraft directly at their airbases.
The Air War Over Ukraine
As in previous months, practically all
Russian aviation losses were caused either
by Ukrainian drone attacks on airfields or by
accidents. In total, Russia lost between 15 and
17 aircraft and helicopters during September
2026, either completely destroyed or seriously
damaged.
The first loss we will mention actually
occurred during the night of August 30–31, but
information about it only emerged later, during
the period currently under review. Ukrainian
forces launched a drone attack on the Yeysk
airbase in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. A L-39
Albatros jet trainer was seriously damaged in
the attack. It is unclear whether the aircraft
was still airworthy, as it had been parked in
exactly the same location without moving for
the entire preceding month.
During the period under review, on
Wednesday, September 2, a Russian Aerospace
Forces Mi-8AMTSh helicopter, registration
RF-90301 and tactical number “Blue 72,”
crashed. Several video recordings of the
accident have emerged. They appear to show
that the helicopter suffered an engine failure
and that the pilot attempted an emergency
autorotation landing on a main road. When
cars appeared in front of him, he swerved into
a ditch, struck a tree, and broke the main rotor.
The accident occurred in the Dolinsky District
of Sakhalin Oblast, in Russia’s Far East.
During the night into Friday, September 4,
the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi was the
target of a major combined attack. Several
waves of naval and aerial drones headed
toward the city. The naval drones struck the
vessel Nefrit, which services Russia’s offshore
oil and gas infrastructure. The aerial drones hit
an oil terminal, an air defense base, and Sochi
Airport. According to Ukrainian forces, citing
satellite images taken on the morning after
the attack, three helicopters were destroyed
there: an Mi-28, a Ka-52, and an Mi-8. In the
first two cases, the helicopters were definitely
destroyed, but their exact types cannot be
confirmed from the piles of wreckage. In the
case of the Mi-8, it is not even possible to
confirm whether it was hit. If it was, it was only
damaged.
Several attacks took place during the
night of Sunday, September 6, into Monday,
September 7. At the Saki airbase in occupied
Crimea, Ukrainian drones destroyed
a Russian Naval Aviation Su-24M, registration
RF-91985 and tactical number “White 49.”
Video footage from the attacking drone shows
that the aircraft sustained damage to a tail.
It had therefore already been hit during one
of the many previous strikes on Saki airbase.
During the same night, Ukrainian drones
also attacked Taganrog-Centralny Airfield
in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. Two concrete
helicopter shelters were hit. Ukrainian forces
claimed that two helicopters, an Mi-8 and an
Mi-35, had been destroyed. Satellite images
later revealed a pile of wreckage at one of the
shelters, although the exact type of helicopter
destroyed cannot be determined. At the second
shelter, only a scorched area left by a fire is
visible; no wreckage can be seen there.
Russia’s run of bad luck continued the very
next day, Monday, September 7, when two Su-
35S fighter jets collided over Kursk Oblast,
near the border with Ukraine. According to
Russian sources, one pilot did not survive the
accident, while the other was injured. Footage
of the wreckage of one of the crashed aircraft
also emerged.
During the night of Tuesday, September 8,
into Wednesday, September 9, Ukraine’s 414th
Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade selected
Anapa International Airport in Russia’s
Krasnodar Krai as its target. It destroyed
a Sukhoi aircraft in the attack. It was most
likely an Su-30SM, although other sources
suggested it could have been an Su-33,
designed for operations from aircraft carriers.
The satellite image shows a scorched area,
several smaller fragments, and a ground
vehicle used to clear away the wreckage. The
scene is dominated by a detached wing with
distinctive gray-blue camouflage. It is possible
that the aircraft had already been damaged
during the previous attack on August 23 and
that Ukrainian drones finished it off this time.
According to Robert Brovdi, commander of
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, also
known by his nickname “Magyar,” an Mi-8
helicopter and two radar systems were also
destroyed during the same raid on Anapa.
Another major attack took place in the early
hours of Thursday, September 17. This time, the
target was an airfield in Rostov, where a large
number of Russian transport aircraft were
stationed. Local residents reported several
large explosions at the airbase, followed by
fires. In one section of the airfield, an An-26
aircraft and two Mi-8 helicopters parked close
to each other were hit. Elsewhere, an An-12 was
struck among several aircraft parked in their
designated positions. All four of these aircraft
were completely destroyed. Ukrainian sources
also reported the destruction of another
An-26 and an Mi-8, but satellite imagery did
not confirm these additional losses.
The Bomber Crash
The most significant Russian aviation
loss occurred toward the end of the period
under review, on Tuesday, September 29, in
Two Su-35 fighter jets in an illustrative photograph
from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Wreckage of one of the two Su-35S fighter jets that
collided over Kursk Oblast on September 7.
AIR WAR IN UKRAINE
INFO Eduard34
November 2026

AIR WAR IN UKRAINE

The Air War Over Ukraine

Drones Destroy Aircraft on the Ground

Miro Barič In this installment of the series, we take a closer look at the period from September 1 to September 30, 2026. During this time, Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukrainian cities continued, particularly against Kyiv. However, there were no aerial engagements. Instead, drones on both sides focused on destroying aircraft directly at their airbases.

As in previous months, practically all Russian aviation losses were caused either by Ukrainian drone attacks on airfields or by accidents. In total, Russia lost between 15 and 17 aircraft and helicopters during September 2026, either completely destroyed or seriously damaged.

The first loss we will mention actually occurred during the night of August 30–31, but information about it only emerged later, during the period currently under review. Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on the Yeysk airbase in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. A L-39 Albatros jet trainer was seriously damaged in the attack. It is unclear whether the aircraft was still airworthy, as it had been parked in exactly the same location without moving for the entire preceding month.

During the period under review, on Wednesday, September 2, a Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-8AMTSh helicopter, registration RF-90301 and tactical number “Blue 72,” crashed. Several video recordings of the accident have emerged. They appear to show that the helicopter suffered an engine failure and that the pilot attempted an emergency autorotation landing on a main road. When cars appeared in front of him, he swerved into a ditch, struck a tree, and broke the main rotor. The accident occurred in the Dolinsky District of Sakhalin Oblast, in Russia’s Far East.

During the night into Friday, September 4, the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi was the target of a major combined attack. Several waves of naval and aerial drones headed toward the city. The naval drones struck the vessel Nefrit, which services Russia’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure. The aerial drones hit an oil terminal, an air defense base, and Sochi Airport. According to Ukrainian forces, citing satellite images taken on the morning after the attack, three helicopters were destroyed there: an Mi-28, a Ka-52, and an Mi-8. In the first two cases, the helicopters were definitely destroyed, but their exact types cannot be confirmed from the piles of wreckage. In the case of the Mi-8, it is not even possible to

that Ukrainian drones finished it off this time. According to Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, also known by his nickname “Magyar,” an Mi-8 helicopter and two radar systems were also

confirm whether it was hit. If it was, it was only damaged.

Several attacks took place during the night of Sunday, September 6, into Monday, September 7. At the Saki airbase in occupied Crimea, Ukrainian drones destroyed destroyed during the same raid on Anapa. a Russian Naval Aviation Su-24M, registration RF-91985 and tactical number “White 49.” Video footage from the attacking drone shows that the aircraft sustained damage to a tail.

It had therefore already been hit during one of the many previous strikes on Saki airbase.

During the same night, Ukrainian drones also attacked Taganrog-Centralny Airfield in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. Two concrete helicopter shelters were hit. Ukrainian forces claimed that two helicopters, an Mi-8 and an Mi-35, had been destroyed. Satellite images later revealed a pile of wreckage at one of the shelters, although the exact type of helicopter destroyed cannot be determined. At the second shelter, only a scorched area left by a fire is visible; no wreckage can be seen there.

Russia’s run of bad luck continued the very next day, Monday, September 7, when two Su- 35S fighter jets collided over Kursk Oblast, near the border with Ukraine. According to Russian sources, one pilot did not survive the accident, while the other was injured. Footage of the wreckage of one of the crashed aircraft also emerged.

During the night of Tuesday, September 8, into Wednesday, September 9, Ukraine’s 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade selected Anapa International Airport in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai as its target. It destroyed a Sukhoi aircraft in the attack. It was most likely an Su-30SM, although other sources suggested it could have been an Su-33, designed for operations from aircraft carriers. The satellite image shows a scorched area, several smaller fragments, and a ground vehicle used to clear away the wreckage. The scene is dominated by a detached wing with distinctive gray-blue camouflage. It is possible that the aircraft had already been damaged during the previous attack on August 23 and

Another major attack took place in the early hours of Thursday, September 17. This time, the target was an airfield in Rostov, where a large number of Russian transport aircraft were stationed. Local residents reported several large explosions at the airbase, followed by fires. In one section of the airfield, an An-26 aircraft and two Mi-8 helicopters parked close to each other were hit. Elsewhere, an An-12 was struck among several aircraft parked in their designated positions. All four of these aircraft were completely destroyed. Ukrainian sources also reported the destruction of another An-26 and an Mi-8, but satellite imagery did not confirm these additional losses.

Two Su-35 fighter jets in an illustrative photograph from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Wreckage of one of the two Su-35S fighter jets that collided over Kursk Oblast on September 7.

The Bomber Crash

The most significant Russian aviation loss occurred toward the end of the period under review, on Tuesday, September 29, in

34

INFO Eduard

November 2026

Info EDUARD