Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck Russian ammunition depots in occupied Crimea on May 16. A source within the agency confirmed the operation to Radio Liberty.
According to the source, the target was the 126th Separate Guards Coastal Defense Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, stationed near the village of Perevalne. The attack hit storage facilities containing military equipment, weapons, and fuel and lubricants.
“Yesterday, SBU drones caused a serious ‘bavovna’ [Ukrainian slang for explosion – from the word for ‘cotton’], at the ammunition depots. There is confirmation from the scene in the form of videos and eyewitness accounts from local residents reporting detonations and fires,” the source said.
Following the explosions, traffic was temporarily blocked on the Simferopol-Alushta highway, which passes through Perevalne.
There were also reports of Russian military personnel killed in the strike, though this information has not yet been officially confirmed.
“The SBU continues to work effectively against legitimate military targets on the territory of Russian-occupied Crimea. Efforts to degrade the enemy’s military capabilities will continue,” the source added.
According to open-source data, the 126th Separate Guards Coastal Defense Brigade (military unit 12676) and the 8th Separate Artillery Regiment (military unit 87714) are based in Perevalne. The facility houses military equipment, weapons, and likely fuel supplies. This base was previously targeted on March 17 and August 25, 2023.