Ukraine war situation update: 20 – 26 September 2025

Spotlight: Ukraine intensifies attacks on occupied Crimea

Following increased targeting of Crimea in August and strikes on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet’s communication equipment the previous week, Ukraine re-escalated activity in Crimea last week, carrying out 13 strikes. On 21 September, Ukrainian drones struck Foros Sanatorium in Crimea and possibly destroyed multiple Russian military aircraft at an airbase. According to the local occupation administration, the strikes on the resort killed three civilians and wounded 16 others, in addition to heavily damaging a school building. Ukrainian sources claim that the sanatorium’s restaurant is frequently used by Russian and pro-Russian government officials and was closed off to the general public at the moment of the strike.¹ On the same day, Ukraine’s main directorate of intelligence reported striking two Russian amphibious aircraft, three helicopters, and a radar station, likely at the Kacha airbase in Crimea. Similar attacks took place throughout the week, targeting a military command post, airfields, and military equipment. On 24 September, during a rare incursion into Crimea, Ukrainian military intelligence claimed to have destroyed two Russian military aircraft at an unspecified location.

Crimea is an attractive target for Ukraine’s attacks due to its increasingly heavy militarization since the start of Russian occupation in 2014.² In addition to the Black Sea fleet, the peninsula hosts major air bases and is used to supply equipment to the frontlines. Yet, Crimea has highly advanced and dense air defenses.³ Out of nearly 800 events in Crimea since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, over 40% are Russian interceptions of Ukrainian drones and missiles. To bypass Russian air defense, Ukraine increased the use of naval drones in and around Crimea since the second half of 2023⁴ and recently showcased its novel submarine drone, which threatens underwater structures, including the support columns of the Crimean bridge.⁵

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