Ukraine’s military announced Thursday that an overnight missile strike on Russia’s Borisoglebsk airfield in the Voronezh region damaged six Su-34M fighter-bomber aircraft, marking another significant attack on Russian military aviation infrastructure.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the operation in a statement published on Telegram, reporting that all six Russian military aircraft sustained varying levels of damage. The strike targeted an airfield used by Russia’s armed forces as the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv continues.
According to Ukraine’s military, the attack was carried out using the domestically developed Neptune coastal missile system. Originally designed for maritime operations, the Neptune system has become an important component of Ukraine’s efforts to strike Russian military targets beyond the immediate battlefield.
Satellite images captured Thursday and independently verified by Reuters showed evidence of destruction at the Borisoglebsk airfield. However, the precise extent of the damage to individual aircraft was not independently established in the available report.
The Su-34M fighter-bomber is among Russia’s most valuable combat aircraft, with each jet estimated to cost tens of millions of US dollars. These advanced military planes play a major role in Russian air operations, particularly in launching powerful glide bombs against Ukrainian cities and military positions near the frontline.
Russia has frequently deployed Su-34 aircraft to conduct aerial bombardments during its military campaign in Ukraine. Their ability to release glide bombs from considerable distances makes them an important asset for Russian forces seeking to attack Ukrainian positions while limiting exposure to air defenses.
The reported destruction and damage at Borisoglebsk could represent a costly setback for Russia’s military aviation capabilities, although the operational consequences remain unclear.
Ukraine has increasingly emphasized strikes against Russian military infrastructure as part of its broader strategy to weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain aerial attacks. Airfields housing combat aircraft are particularly valuable targets because of their role in supporting bombing missions and other military operations.
The latest Ukrainian missile strike highlights the continued vulnerability of Russian airbases to long-range attacks and underscores Kyiv’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s air operations.
The Ukrainian military has not provided further details about the condition of the six aircraft or whether additional infrastructure at the airfield was affected.
