Russian Special Operations Forces Day: 12 Years Since Crimea Operation

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) have intensified attacks targeting Russian logistics in Crimea, disrupting supply lines to Russian forces in the south, according to recent statements from Ukrainian military officials. The operations, which include strikes on railway infrastructure, coincide with Russia’s observance of its annual Day of Special Operations Forces, marking twelve years since SSO units first operated on the Crimean Peninsula.

On November 8, 2025, the SSO announced the successful destruction of a Russian S-400 “Triumph” air defense system and a munitions depot in Crimea. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Deep Strike SSO unit and the Resistance Movement, targeted strategically crucial assets used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine, according to a statement released by the SSO. Details of the operation were withheld for security reasons until recently.

Earlier, on August 26, 2025, the SSO confirmed actions that disrupted Russian military logistics in Crimea, without specifying the exact targets or locations. This followed reports of strikes on the Urozhayne railway station near Krasnogvardeyskoye and damage to railway infrastructure in Dzhankoi, as reported by the Crimean Wind monitoring group.

A more recent attack, detailed on November 8, 2025, involved a strike on a train carrying fuel near Crimea. Ukrainian officials stated that this attack has complicated the provision of supplies to Russian troops in the southern grouping.

These actions occur against a backdrop of ongoing tensions stemming from Russia’s initial seizure of Crimea in February-March 2014. The annexation, considered a violation of international law by most of the international community, led to the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia and marked the beginning of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The status of Crimea remains internationally contested, with Russia having incorporated the territory as the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol.

The SSO’s operations are part of a broader Ukrainian effort to degrade Russia’s military capabilities in occupied territories. As of February 27, 2026, Russia has not officially commented on the recent SSO operations, and the extent of the damage and disruption to its logistics network remains unclear.