Ukraine’s Navy said Thursday that it destroyed six Russian Su-34M fighter-bombers in an overnight missile strike on the Borisoglebsk military airfield in southwestern Russia’s Voronezh region.
The Navy said the attack was carried out using its Neptune coastal missile system. It also reported damage to equipment supporting flight operations, a fire and secondary explosions.
Ukrainian monitoring channels published satellite images purportedly showing damage to an aircraft parking area. The reported destruction of the six warplanes could not be independently verified.
Russian authorities did not acknowledge a strike on the airfield.
Voronezh region Governor Alexander Gusev said air defenses intercepted 33 drones and “several jet-powered aerial targets.” Falling debris damaged outbuildings at several private homes and a car in the regional capital, Voronezh, he said.
Residents of Borisoglebsk reported explosions and a large fire, with smoke visible from several parts of the city.
The military airfield lies about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) east of Borisoglebsk.
Russia uses Su-34 fighter-bombers to launch guided glide bombs at Ukrainian positions and populated areas. The Su-34M is an upgraded version of the aircraft.
In September, Ukraine’s military said it had destroyed a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet near the Millerovo airfield in the Rostov region and a Ka-27 helicopter near the Yeysk airfield in the Krasnodar region.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces had previously reported striking four aircraft at the Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region: two Su-57 fighters, a Su-34 and another Sukhoi aircraft of an unidentified model. Those targets were about 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here.
Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service.
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