Ukrainian Special Forces Destroy 4 Enemy Warplanes Deep in Russia’s Volgograd

Ukraine’s Special Operation Forces (SSO) reported that it had destroyed four enemy Su-34 fighter-bombers at Manivka airbase in Russia’s Volgograd region.

The airbase, which is 400 km (249 miles) from Ukraine is home to an attack squadron of Su-34 planes, fighter-bombers that are often used to deploy glide bombs, a major threat to Ukraine’s frontline cities and forces.

The Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO: Fullback), a two-seat long-range strike derivative of the Su-27 (NATO: Flanker) fighter, was developed in 1990, but was only brought into service in 2014 due to financial and technical delays. Using open-source investigations, Slashgear estimated that Russia has lost 38 of the 163 Su-34 airplanes since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

If the new reports of four destroyed Su-34s are confirmed, this would bring the number of Su-34 aircraft that Russia has from 163 to 121, a nearly 26% loss of this model of warplane.

Ukraine recently tested its first glide bombs with a 500 kilogram payload and a range of up to 60 kilometers.

“According to preliminary information, four units of enemy aircraft were destroyed, namely Su-34 aircraft, and the technical and operational part - a place where various combat aircraft are maintained and repaired,” the SSO reported on its Telegram Channel.

This is not the first time that the Marinovka airbase was attacked. Last August, Ukrainian forces attacked drones, ammo dumps, and fuel depots at the same airbase using drones.

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'No Longer Exists': SSO Says Key Railway Bridge in Crimea Destroyed

The bridge served as a “strategic military-logistical artery” for Russian forces.

The attack is the most recent in a string of high-profile attacks on Russian aviation deep inside Russia’s borders, including Operation Spiderweb on June 1, which damaged 41 Russian military aircraft in a coordinated attack from within Russia using remotely launched drones smuggled into the country in the roof of modular housing units.