Ukrainian drones have destroyed some 40 Russian military aircraft deep inside Russia using a daring and novel approach. From Associated Press:
"A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press on Sunday, while Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones a day before the two sides meet for a new round of direct talks in Istanbul. [snip]
The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones reportedly hit 41 bombers stationed at several airfields on Sunday afternoon, including the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine." (our emphasis)
The operation shows that Ukraine is exploring every avenue to strike Russian military targets, especially their aircraft, even using clandestine military operations deep inside Russia. It also reiterates the widespread incompetence of the Russian military and security forces to have let these trucks travel deep into Russian territory and launch their drones without being detected.
Meanwhile Russia launched 472 drones on Sunday against Ukraine, the largest number since their brutal invasion in February 2022.
BONUS: LGM's Robert Farley wants us to understand why the attack was a BFD.
(photo: A military unit on fire in the Irkutsk region of Russia. Governor of Irkutsk Region / Reuters)
Why would planes 2500 miles away be of interest to Ukraine?
ReplyDeleteRussian TU-95 and TU-22M aircraft destroyed in the attacks are used to launch cruise missiles toward Ukraine from a distance beyond Ukraine's anti-aircraft defenses
ReplyDelete