Experts Named The Unobvious Purpose Of Destroying Rare Be-12s In Crimea

• 22.09.2025, 21:32

These are very rare and actually valuable machines.

The Primary special unit of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has carried out a series of successful attacks on facilities in occupied Crimea over several days. On September 21, three Mi-8 helicopters and the 55Zh6U Nebo-U observation radar were destroyed. Already on September 22, the Ukrainian military took out another Mi-8 and two Be-12 anti-submarine aircraft.

Defence Express reminds: these are very rare and actually valuable machines. Despite their age - the first flight of the Be-12 took place back in 1960, these airplanes are still in service with the Russian Black Sea Fleet. There are no more than six of these machines in active service, which are used for patrolling the Black Sea and searching for submarines. The main armament of the Be-12 is acoustic buoys and 123 kg PLAB-250-120 bombs designed to hit underwater targets.

The choice of the Be-12 for attacks was probably purposeful. The destruction of these aircraft reduces the enemy's anti-submarine and patrol capabilities, opening up space for Ukrainian drones to operate.

In particular, the Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv featured huge and powerful underwater drones called Toloka, which could be used for effective strikes against Russian targets, including dismantling the illegally built Crimean bridge. That target is the first thing that comes to mind when discussing preparations for new strikes, the analysts wrote.

But in addition, the Be-12s are actively engaged by Russia to detect Ukrainian surface naval drones like the Magura and See Baby. And the destruction of these machines weakens Russia's control over the sea area, which increases the effectiveness of Ukrainian operations at sea and near the Crimean bridge in particular. Therefore, Defense Express analysts conclude that this was the main goal of the recent operation on the peninsula.