KYIV — Ukraine has reportedly carried out its first coordinated mass strike using a squadron of converted civilian light aircraft operating as remotely piloted bombers, targeting an underground Russian logistics facility in the occupied Crimean city of Armyansk.
The operation was disclosed by Serhii Sternenko, a Ukrainian civil activist who advises Ukraine's Defense Ministry on drone warfare. Sternenko shared photographs showing at least ten modified aircraft equipped with Soviet-designed high-explosive bombs and described the images as historic.
"Tonight the planes flew and bombed an underground logistics hub in Armyansk, that is, Crimea," Sternenko wrote while posting the photographs.
Neither Ukraine's military nor the Defense Ministry has officially confirmed the operation, the number of aircraft involved, or the extent of the reported damage. Independent battle damage assessments have also not been released.
Underground Logistics Hub Targeted
The reported strike targeted an underground logistics facility in Armyansk, a city located near the Perekop Isthmus, the narrow land corridor connecting Crimea with mainland territory controlled by Russian forces.
The area plays an important role in Russian military logistics, serving as a key route for transporting troops, fuel, ammunition, and military equipment into Crimea. Its importance has increased after repeated Ukrainian strikes damaged other transport links, including the Kerch Bridge.
Underground logistics sites are designed to protect military supplies from aerial surveillance and conventional air attacks by placing storage and distribution facilities below ground.
Civilian Aircraft Converted Into Remote-Controlled Bombers
The aircraft used in the reported operation are based on the Skyranger Swift and Nynja ultralight aircraft, both of which are normally sold as commercial kits for recreational aviation.
To convert them for military use, Ukrainian engineers remove the cockpit controls and install camera systems, communication equipment, and remote-control electronics. The modifications allow operators on the ground to fly the aircraft remotely while carrying aerial bombs beneath the fuselage.
Unlike smaller commercial drones, these aircraft can transport much heavier payloads over longer distances while remaining significantly cheaper than purpose-built military strike drones.
Aircraft Capabilities
The Skyranger family is typically powered by Rotax 912 engines producing either 80 or 100 horsepower.
Depending on configuration, the aircraft can carry payloads of up to approximately 330 kilograms (730 pounds). Models fitted with larger fuel tanks are capable of flying for around three hours at speeds approaching 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph).
Commercial kits for these aircraft cost tens of thousands of dollars, making them a relatively low-cost platform compared with military unmanned aircraft systems that can cost several million dollars.
Program Expanded From Individual Missions
Ukraine has been using converted civilian light aircraft for long-range strike missions since at least April 2024.
During that period, images emerged showing a downed Skyranger-based aircraft carrying an OFAB-100-120 bomb, a Soviet-designed 100-kilogram aerial bomb originally developed for combat aircraft such as the Su-25 and MiG-29. The weapon contains approximately 42 kilograms of high explosive.
Around the same time, a modified Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat light aircraft configured for one-way attack missions was reportedly used to strike a military production facility in Russia's Tatarstan region.
Over the following two years, the program evolved from one-way attack aircraft into reusable remotely piloted bombers. By early 2025, Ukrainian units were reportedly using the aircraft for nighttime strikes, dropping payloads of up to 250 kilograms against Russian infrastructure, including oil pumping facilities in the Bryansk region.
According to reports from Ukrainian units, some aircraft are capable of carrying combinations of aerial bombs and mortar shells on multiple hardpoints before returning to base after completing their missions.
Larger Coordinated Operations
Previous confirmed sightings of these converted bomber aircraft generally involved a single aircraft operating independently.
The appearance of at least ten modified aircraft in photographs shared after the reported Armyansk strike suggests Ukraine has expanded production and assembly of the platforms and may now be capable of conducting coordinated squadron-level operations using converted civilian aircraft.
While Ukrainian authorities have not officially confirmed operational details, the reported strike reflects Ukraine's continued use of commercially available technology adapted for military purposes. The approach aims to provide long-range strike capability at significantly lower cost than conventional military aircraft or advanced unmanned systems.
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