Zelenskyy piles pressure on Putin as $70 million fighter jets are hit by Ukraine

 Ukrainian security officials say long-range drones have damaged two Russian Su-27 fighter jets at the Belbek military airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea.

In a statement issued on December 20, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the strike was carried out by drones operated by its Special Operations Centre “A” (Alpha).

Belbek airfield, located near Sevastopol, serves as a strategic Russian military base in occupied Crimea and is used to deploy fighter aircraft and air defence systems across the peninsula.

“Long-range drones of the SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Centre hit two Su-27 aircraft at the Russian military airfield in Belbek, temporarily occupied Crimea. One of the planes was on a taxiway with a full combat load and ready for a combat sortie — it was destroyed,” the SBU wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine strikes Su-27 fighter jets

According to the agency, the two fighter jets have an estimated combined value of about $70 million. The SBU added that the airfield’s control tower was also hit, an impact it said “may complicate the organization and control of flights at the airfield.”

The agency noted that the strike marked the second successful operation against the Belbek airfield in recent days.

“This is already the second successful SBU attack on the Belbek airfield in recent days. On Dec. 18, our drones struck Russian equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars — including two Nebo-SVU radars, a 92N6 radar of the S-400 Triumph system, a Pantsir-S2 air defense system, and a MiG-31 aircraft with a full combat load,” the agency added.

The SBU said such attacks on key Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea weaken Moscow’s combat capabilities in the region.

“Strikes on key Russian airfields and the destruction of aircraft and air defense systems in occupied Crimea significantly reduce the enemy’s military potential in the region.” 

The strike came as fighting continued across several fronts as Russia’s war on Ukraine intensified on December 20. In southern Ukraine, Russian attacks on ports in the Odesa region killed seven people and wounded 15 others.

Russian attacks kill seven people

Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram, describing the assault as “massive” and involving ballistic missiles that set trucks ablaze. The Kyiv Independent reported that Odesa has been grappling with persistent power outages since December 13, following earlier Russian strikes.

In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces shelled parts of the Dnipro region. They launched drone attacks that damaged homes, power lines, and a gas pipeline, according to Vladyslav Hayvanenko, acting head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration.

Ukrainian officials on their part said Kyiv’s forces have regained control of most of the northern city of Kupiansk after isolating Russian troops, despite repeated claims by Moscow that it had captured the key urban centre.

On the diplomatic front, European Union leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with an interest-free loan to support its military and economic needs over the next two years.

EU Council President Antonio Costa said the bloc had approved €90 billion ($105.5 billion) in support for 2026–27. “We have a deal,” Costa wrote on social media, adding that the decision would bolster Ukraine’s defence against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the move, saying the funding “truly strengthens our resilience” and provides Kyiv with financial security for the coming years. Russian officials, however, criticised the decision, with Kremlin-linked figures warning of legal action and condemning European discussions around frozen Russian assets.

Speaking in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of refusing to engage in talks over territory. He dismissed European plans to use Russian assets as “robbery,” insisting that such funds would eventually have to be returned.