Tendra Spit, Ukraine, 2025-09-20
In a daring overnight raid, a special operations unit of Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) landed on the Russian-occupied Tendra Spit in the Black Sea, destroying a Russian military vehicle and planting minefields. The successful operation, confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence, highlights Kyiv’s continued efforts to disrupt Russian logistics and deny Moscow control over strategic maritime territory. The raid is the latest in a series of Ukrainian special operations that have targeted Russian forces on key Black Sea islands and coastal areas.
The Nighttime Operation and Its Impact
The raid was carried out by forces from the Viking Maritime Operations Center of the HUR. According to a HUR statement on Telegram, the special forces conducted a night landing on the spit, a narrow sandbar off the coast of the Kherson region. During the operation, they destroyed a Russian DT-10 Vityaz, a multi-purpose tracked vehicle used to transport troops and supplies.
* Destroying Key Logistics: The Vityaz is a crucial logistics asset for Russian forces, and its destruction will hinder their ability to resupply positions and move personnel in the area.
* Laying Minefields: In addition to destroying the vehicle, the Ukrainian special forces also laid minefields, which will further impede Russian movement and pose a threat to their personnel and equipment.
A Pattern of Strategic Raids
This is not the first time Ukrainian forces have conducted a raid on the Tendra Spit. In July, a similar operation resulted in the destruction of Russian military positions and the elimination of enemy personnel, including an electronic warfare system and a radar station. The raids underscore Ukraine’s strategy of using small, highly trained units to conduct targeted strikes on key Russian military assets in the Black Sea. The operations aim to diminish Russia’s naval and logistical advantage, opening up a wider variety of naval and aerial operations for Ukrainian forces.
The successful raid on Tendra Spit is a clear demonstration of Ukraine’s persistent and effective use of special operations to challenge Russian control in the Black Sea. It serves as a powerful message to Moscow that its occupied territories are not safe from Ukrainian forces.
