Ukraine Strikes Russian Su-24M Bomber at Crimea Air Base
Ukraine strikes a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saky air base in occupied Crimea on July 16 as the aircraft prepared for a combat mission against Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Omega special forces unit. [1] The operation highlights ongoing Ukrainian efforts to target Russian aviation assets deep in occupied territory.
Ukrainian Drone Strike on Russian Bomber in Crimea
Ukraine's Omega special forces unit said on July 16 that it struck a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky military airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea. [4] The Su-24M is a modernized version of the Soviet-designed supersonic frontline bomber that Russia uses to carry out strike missions against ground targets. [1] The aircraft is capable of launching guided and unguided munitions and has been widely used by Moscow throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [1] Operators from Omega's combat diver division identified the aircraft as it was preparing for takeoff before carrying out the strike using drones. [1] The first drone struck the aircraft's nose section, while the second delivered an additional strike near the fuel tanks, confirming the target had been hit, the unit said in a statement. [1] The military said the aircraft had been preparing to carry out attacks against Ukraine. [1] National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko said that after identifying the target, the troops carefully planned the operation and struck the aircraft as it was preparing for a combat sortie to launch strikes against Ukraine. [4] Pivnenko said the first UAV struck the nose section of the Su-24M and the second hit near the fuel tanks, ultimately destroying the aircraft. [4] Pivnenko said National Guard units are systematically expanding their capability to conduct long-range drone strikes deep behind Russian lines. [4] He added that units of the National Guard's 1st Azov Corps and 2nd Khartiia Corps are also carrying out combat missions at distances exceeding 100 km. [4] The commander said such strikes primarily target Russian logistics routes, ammunition depots, command posts, air defence systems, clusters of personnel and aircraft. [4] He stressed that these operations weaken Russia's combat capabilities and force the Russians to divert additional resources to protect facilities in the rear. [4] The Saky air base, located on Crimea's western coast, is one of Russia's key military aviation hubs on the occupied peninsula and has repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian strikes throughout the full-scale war. [1] The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim. [1]
Russian Attacks on Kharkiv Oblast
Russian forces attacked Kharkiv and its suburbs with strike drones on 16 July. [2] In the settlement of Vysokyi, one person was killed and five others were injured as a result of a strike on a civilian business facility. [2] In the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv, a 40-year-old man was injured after a drone struck a residential area. [2] Syniehubov subsequently reported that a 50-year-old man was injured in the Kholodnohirskyi district. [2] A civilian car was also damaged in the drone strike. [2]
Ukrainian forces strike Russian Su-24M bomber at Saky air base in occupied Crimea. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Russian Air Strikes on Zaporizhzhia
Russian forces have attacked Zaporizhzhia, killing three people and injuring others. [3] During the afternoon of 16 July, Russian forces carried out air strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia. [3] Early reports indicate that three people were killed and two others were injured, including one child. [3] Rescue workers say the strikes damaged a two-storey house at one location. [3] Neighbouring buildings were damaged by the blast wave. [3] Fires broke out in open areas at other locations. [3] SES psychologists provided assistance to 16 civilians, including four children. [3] The number of casualties is being updated. [3]
Political Developments and Cabinet Appointment
The Ukrainian parliament on July 16 appointed the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. [1] As many as 264 members of parliament out of 392 approved the Cabinet's appointment, while 15 voted against it, 19 abstained, and 20 lawmakers did not vote. [1] Although most ministers were approved, the intrigue over the fate of the defense and foreign ministers remains. [1] Candidates for defense minister and foreign minister are expected to be submitted by President Volodymyr Zelensky later and then considered by parliament. [1] The Cabinet's appointment was marred by controversy over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was widely seen as highly effective, with Zelensky's decision to fire him triggering nationwide protests on July 16. [1] Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, who also has been first deputy prime minister since January, kept his position. [1] He served as prime minister from 2020 to 2025 and defense minister from July 2025 to January 2026. [1] Tetiana Berezhna, who has been deputy prime minister and culture minister since 2025, also kept her job. [1] She has been widely seen as effective since taking over as culture minister, relying on her strong management and legal background to focus on initiatives to make culture financially sustainable and seen as a national security issue. [1] This has included international outreach to rally support for protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage. [1] Prior to her role in the Culture Ministry, she was a deputy minister in Ukraine’s Economy Ministry under Yulia Svyrydenko. [1] Serhii Marchenko was reappointed as finance minister. [1] He has served in the role since 2020. [1] Viktor Lyashko, who has led the health ministry since 2021, also kept his post. [1]
Ukrainian National Guard drones strike a Russian Su-24M bomber at Saky airbase in occupied Crimea. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Zelenskyy's Appointment of Acting Defense Minister
President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 16 said he had appointed acting Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Yevhen Khmara as acting defense minister. [1] The move comes after widespread public outrage over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov the previous day. [1] "Once the necessary legal procedures are completed, I will ask lawmakers to support Yevhen Khmara's appointment as defense minister," Zelensky added. [1] Khmara previously led the agency's Alpha Special Operations Center, which has played a key role in Ukraine's long-range strike campaign against Russia. [1] He has largely stayed out of the public eye. [1] Zelensky said he had discussed Ukraine's long-range strike campaign against Russia and support for the country's security and defense forces with Khmara. [1] The president said Khmara had gained "extensive and, in many ways, unprecedented experience" in conducting technological strike operations, adding that Ukraine's defense should focus on developing long-range capabilities, one of the key areas Fedorov pushed during his tenure. [1] Khmara is known for leading the operation to liberate Snake Island. [1] In January, Zelensky appointed him acting head of the SBU after Vasyl Maliuk stepped down to focus on operations against Russia. [1] Under the succession rules, Khmara's senior deputy, Oleksandr Poklad, is expected to become acting head of the SBU after Khmara's appointment to the Defense Ministry. [1] Thousands of people gathered in downtown Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on July 16 to demand that parliament reappoint Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister following his dismissal. [1] "Reappoint!" protesters chanted outside the President's Office in central Kyiv, waving Ukrainian flags and signs criticizing the decision. [1] President Volodymyr Zelensky's dismissal of Fedorov has sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers, soldiers, veterans, and civil society figures, who argue Ukraine is losing one of its most effective wartime officials without a clear explanation. [1] Reflecting on his tenure, Fedorov highlighted more than 20 major achievements, including disrupting Russian forces' access to Starlink systems, coordinating strikes against Russian logistics in occupied Crimea, and launching what he described as "an unpopular but extremely important" military reform. [1] Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been proposed as Ukraine's next defense minister. [1] His appointment requires parliamentary approval, but several lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People party have voiced opposition. [1]
Zelenskyy on Impact of Ukrainian Strikes on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that as a result of Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russia's oil and gas sector, Ukraine is managing to shift public sentiment in Russian society and force Russia back to the negotiating table. [5] "Our main objective was to reduce the amount of money they [the Russians – ed.] spend specifically on defence, meaning on the war itself. And we are seeing that happen: when their exports were running smoothly, salaries, contracts and related payments kept rising, but at some point that growth stabilised," Zelenskyy said at a press conference on 16 July. [5] "We already know that funding for personnel is beginning to fall in some parts of Russia's war machine, so to speak... As a result of Ukraine's disruption of Russian logistics, diesel and petrol supply indicators inside Russia have shifted further in Ukraine's favour. Why? Because the number of people in Russia who want this war to end has started to grow. There are no illusions here. I do not believe there has been any rise in the number of people who have started treating us with respect or who genuinely want us to have a good life. I simply do not believe that. What we do clearly see, however, is that the number of people who genuinely want this war to end has grown several times over. For now, that is the only indicator we have." [5] Zelenskyy said Russia will either step up mobilisation or move towards dialogue after the State Duma elections in autumn 2026. [5]
What to watch next: Ukrainian parliament is expected to consider candidates for defense minister and foreign minister submitted
