Ukraine Confirms D£struction Of Four Russian Su-34 Jets In Str!ke On Major Military Airfield
Ukraine Confirms Destruction Of Four Russian Su-34 Jets In Strike On Major Military Airfield
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the operation in a post on X on Thursday, October 15, saying the aircraft were preparing to launch further attacks on Ukraine and were loaded with aerial bombs.
Ukraine’s Defence Forces have destroyed four Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and damaged two others in a strike on an airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region, as Kyiv stepped up attacks on Russian military facilities using long-range weapons.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the operation in a statement on X on Thursday, October 15, saying the aircraft were preparing to launch further attacks on Ukraine and were loaded with aerial bombs.
He said Ukrainian forces used a long-range Neptune missile to hit the target and praised Ukrainian Navy personnel for carrying out the operation.
“The Russians used them to terrorise our people,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the aircraft. He added that the warplanes were ready to launch fresh attacks on Ukraine before they were hit.
The strike targeted the Borisoglebsk military airfield in the Voronezh region, where Ukrainian forces reported explosions and a fire. The Ukrainian Navy also reported damage to equipment used to support aircraft operations.
Ukraine had claimed the destruction of four aircraft and damage to two others.
The Su-34 is a Russian fighter-bomber used to launch guided aerial bombs and missiles against Ukrainian military positions and settlements.
The aircraft can carry multiple weapons and plays an important role in Russia’s air operations against Ukraine. Destroying or damaging the jets could reduce Russia’s ability to conduct further bombing missions.
Ukraine has increasingly used domestically developed weapons to attack Russian military infrastructure beyond the front line. The Neptune missile system was initially developed as a coastal anti-ship weapon and was later adapted for long-range attacks against land targets.
In a separate development, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian long-range operations had also reached a facility in Russia’s Oryol region used to store and launch attack drones.
He further reported a strike on a target in the Black Sea but did not identify the target or provide details about the damage.
“These are our justified responses to all of Russia’s terror against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, accusing Moscow of prolonging the war. He added that Ukraine would continue its long-range operations.
The latest reported attacks form part of Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s military capabilities by targeting aircraft, drone facilities and other infrastructure used to sustain its war effort.
