On September 7, Ukraine celebrates Military Intelligence Day – a holiday that symbolizes the invisible yet incredibly important work of those who ensure the country’s security every day, gather critical information about the enemy, and lay the foundation for successful special operations. On this day, Ukrainian intelligence officers are honored for their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to the state as they risk their lives carrying out the most complex missions both on the front lines and behind enemy lines. Their achievements serve as examples of heroism, skill, and commitment to the country.
Crimea is one of the primary targets for Russian occupiers, but it will never be safe for them. Thanks to the professionalism of Ukrainian intelligence officers, the peninsula has become the site of precision operations that demonstrate the strength and modernity of Ukrainian security forces.
Ukrainian cyber intelligence has repeatedly proven its effectiveness. One of the most notable operations was the hacking of the servers of the occupation administration in Crimea, which allowed access to all documentation and paralyzed the enemy’s electronic document management system, depriving the occupiers of a sense of control even in the digital realm. Meanwhile, Ukrainian special forces from the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) have repeatedly carried out risky landings on the Crimean coastline. On August 24, 2023, they carried out an operation in the Tarkhankut area, destroying equipment and around 30 enemy soldiers, while raising the Ukrainian flag without suffering any losses. On July 28, 2024, a group of intelligence officers landed on the Tendrivska Spit, destroying the EW complex “Zont” and the radar system “Rosa.” These operations had not only military but also powerful symbolic significance, reminding everyone that Crimea remains Ukrainian in the minds of its defenders and allies.
At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence officers were the first in the world to use FPV drones in open waters: on September 11, 2024, the Raven Group unit attacked Russian positions on the “Petro Hodyvanyts” platform, destroying equipment and personnel. Another series of strikes, carried out by the “Ghosts” unit, resulted in the destruction of the BK-16 landing boat and three radar systems. Another strategic success was the elimination of the latest Russian radar system “98L6 Yenisei” for the S-500 system, a technology that the enemy considered one of the most advanced. The “Group 13” unit with MAGURA V5 marine drones turned the Russian Black Sea Fleet into a vulnerable target: in March 2024, Ukrainian drones destroyed the patrol ship “Sergey Kotov,” and in May of the same year, they struck several fast boats and FSB vessels, showing that the enemy no longer controls the sea.
Even before the full-scale invasion, the HUR provided accurate data on Russian forces near Ukraine’s borders, allowing preparations to be made for defense during the first days of the war. Today, all operations in the Black Sea are part of the planned preparation for a large-scale operation to de-occupy Crimea.
Ukrainian special operations exemplify the new kind of warfare: high-tech, flexible, and precise, capable of dismantling Russian myths about Crimea’s “impregnability,” disabling air defense systems and the fleet, weakening the occupation authorities, and inspiring Ukrainians. Crimea is Ukraine, and the actions of our intelligence officers make this fact a reality every day.