Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reported a new series of long-range strikes conducted overnight on May 15, targeting a wide range of russian military assets both in temporarily occupied territories and inside russia. Among the reported targets were russian Tor-M2 air defense system, Pantsir-S1 unit, a cargo ship carrying ammunition in Berdiansk, a training center and a temporary deployment site in Luhansk region, as well as several aviation assets near the russian city of Yeysk on the Azov Sea coast.
The most notable target appears to have been the destruction of a rare Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft. Although primarily designed as a search-and-rescue and firefighting platform, russian forces also used the aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and rapid transport missions in coastal regions. The loss is particularly significant because the Be-200 fleet is extremely limited in size.
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Only around 20 Be-200 aircraft were ever built, with just a handful operated by russian military structures in various configurations. According to available information, russia's naval aviation and Ministry of Defense possess only three such aircraft. Earlier this year, one Be-200PS variant carrying the tactical number 21 Yellow was reportedly intercepted by Italian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea, suggesting that the aircraft destroyed near Yeysk was likely either another Be-200PS with the number 23 Yellow or Be-200ChS variant marked 20 Yellow.
The aircraft itself has an unusual history. The Beriev Aircraft Company developed Be-200 aircraft on the basis of the larger Beriev A-40 Albatros anti-submarine aircraft project, which never entered mass production. Be-200 aircraft was manufactured in Taganrog, a city whose aviation facilities have repeatedly been targeted during the war. Previous Ukrainian strikes reportedly caused around $65 million in damage to the Beriev plant.
The strike on the airfield near Yeysk also drew attention because of the apparent tactics and technology involved. Judging by the drone interface visible in released footage, analysts believe the attack may have been conducted using Ukrainian FP-1 or FP-2 long-range drones. These systems are reportedly capable of real-time guidance during the terminal phase of the attack.
What makes the operation especially interesting is the likely communications setup. FP-1 and FP-2 drones are often equipped with Starlink satellite communication terminals for long-range control, yet Starlink does not operate over russian territory. Additionally, observers noted unusual visual artifacts in the video feed, which are not typically associated with direct Starlink transmission.
This has led to speculation that the operation may have relied on a separate relay drone positioned somewhere over the Azov Sea or temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. Such a relay platform could have carried the Starlink terminal and retransmitted the signal to the strike drone operating deep inside russian territory. If confirmed, it would demonstrate another evolution in Ukraine's long-range drone warfare tactics.a
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