Satellite Images Reveal Full Destruction of Russia’s Be-200 Aircraft After Drone Attack

Satellite imagery has confirmed the complete destruction of a Russian Be-200PS amphibious aircraft at the Yeysk military airfield following a Ukrainian drone strike, according to OSINT analysts from the AviVector group on May 15.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck the airfield earlier the same day. Fresh satellite images released after the attack show the destroyed Be-200PS on the airfield grounds, confirming earlier reports that the aircraft had been hit.

The Be-200 is a rare jet-powered amphibious aircraft capable of taking off and landing both on conventional runways and on water. It is powered by two D-436TP turbofan engines, can reportedly reach speeds of up to 720 km/h, and has a range of around 3,850 kilometers.

Depending on the configuration, the aircraft can carry up to 72 passengers or around 12 tons of water for firefighting missions. While best known as a firefighting aircraft, the Be-200 is also used for maritime patrol, cargo transport, and search-and-rescue operations.

The aircraft has also drawn renewed attention after reports that Russia had explored using the Be-200 platform as a basis for a future multi-role military aircraft combining airborne early warning, maritime patrol, and anti-submarine functions. Such plans remain speculative, but they underline the aircraft’s value as a rare and difficult-to-replace platform.

During the same attack on Yeysk, Ukrainian drones also attempted to hit a Russian Ka-27 helicopter. The result of that strike remains unclear.

Despite the attack, satellite imagery suggests Russia has not fully withdrawn aircraft from the Yeysk airfield, and maintenance activity at the base appears to be continuing.

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Yeysk airfield is a strategically important Russian military base on the coast of the Sea of Azov. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the site with drones since 2023 as part of its broader campaign against Russian air bases, logistics hubs, and military infrastructure.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces conducted a coordinated drone strike on a Russian military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, detecting and destroying a transport aircraft An-72P, as well as a two-coordinate circular surveillance radar P-37.

According to Brovdi, the operation was carried out by the 1st Separate Center of Unmanned Systems in coordination with the 9th Department of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR). The targets were located at the Kirovske airfield in eastern Crimea.

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