Destruction of eight Russian planes in Crimea is stunning coup for Kyiv

However they did it, the destruction of eight Russian fighter aircraft at a base in Crimea is a staggering achievement. Almost as big a blow to Vladimir Putin as the sinking of the Black Sea flagship cruiser, Moskva. Either it was Ukrainian special forces or Ukrainian air force jet fighters. Either way, the Russians were caught napping. If it involved special forces literally entering Crimea stealthily and planting explosives on all the planes and then leaving without being caught, it reminds me of the SAS mission that was intended to blow up Argentine aircraft in the Falklands war in 1982. That was not sucessful because of a crashed helicopter. The seven SAS commandos had to leave fast and sought sanctuary in Chile from where they were extracted. But if the Ukrainian special forces who have a good reputation, carried out the demolition mission at Saky in western Crimea, it was successful not just in achieving the objective but also putting the fear of God into the Russian forces in the 2014-annexed territory. If it was ground-attack aircraft then what the hell happened to the Russian air defences? What a shambles. I can't believe the aircraft were smashed up by the launching of Himars rockets unless the US has secretly supplied Ukraine with longer-range rockets. However the attack was carried out, the Saky base looks a mess. Putin will be steaming mad. It has also put Putin on notice that President Zelensky intends to carry through with his threat to take back Crimea from the Russians. Good luck, Zelensky.