Images posted on social media and analysed by BBC Verify show a Tupolev Tu-22 on fire at Soltsy-2 airbase, south of St Petersburg.
However, images posted on the social media platform Telegram showed a large fire engulfing a jet with the distinctive nose cone of the Tu-22.
While the destruction of a single aircraft will have little effect on the potency of Moscow’s current 60-strong fleet, the operation highlights Kyiv’s growing ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Kyiv has over recent months launched dozens of fixed-wing unmanned aircraft to attack Moscow, a journey of several hundred miles.
However, the Russian MoD’s description of the drone as a “copter-type UAV” suggests a cheap, commercially available device launched at short range.
BBC Verify confirmed the location of the Ukrainian drone attack on Soltsy-2 by comparing visual clues - such as the appearance of aircraft and bays - to historical satellite images of the airbase.
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The bad news is that Russia still has ~60 of those. The good news is that they can’t replace the losses, the production line was scrapped 30 years ago. The supposed successor, PAK DA, continues being a vaporware.
What percentage of these attacks deep into Russia are being launched from Ukraine and what percentage are being launched from Russia? Of the latter (assuming non-zero), what percentage are being launched by Ukranian forces operating in Russia and what percentage are being launched by dissident Russians themselves?
Considering the first pictures of the plane burning were on Ukrainian social media, and “someone” put up a Ukrainian flag right outside the airport, I’m guessing these aren’t being launched from Ukraine.
As the other poster said, this attack likely came from inside the house 😱
They’ve also developed and used long-range drones similar to what the terrorists in Tehran sold to the terrorists in the Kremlin. Basically flying mopeds of death.
Seems Ukraine is giving the Kremlin the wonderful opportunity to pull air defense resources back into Russia or face extremely expensive and embarrassing attacks.
These airfields have air defense systems already. They’re just failing to destroy these drones, because the Ukrainian operatives launching them are smarter, and the Russian soldiers are lax.
Definitely gross and unexcusable behavior. But, it’s funny how the BBC final coverage of the world cup is about the Spain’s controversies and how great the England team is. Nobody likes a sore loser. Lol
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