Ukrainian forces hit a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet and a Pantsir-S1 air defense system at the Khalino military airfield in Russia‘s Kursk region, Ukraine’s General Staff announced Tuesday.
According to the military, the attack was carried out by the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade “Chorny Forest.”
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Khalino is a dual-use airfield located about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) east of central Kursk. It hosts the Kursk-Vostok International Airport, which has been closed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, as well as a Russian military airbase.
“A MiG-29 fighter jet and a Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system were hit,” the General Staff said.
The military estimated the value of the destroyed equipment at roughly $45 million, with the MiG-29 worth about $25 million and the Pantsir-S1 approximately $20 million.
The General Staff described the operation as successful but did not specify whether the aircraft and air defense system were destroyed or only damaged.
The military also released nearly one minute of drone footage showing the strike. Kyiv Post was unable to independently verify the video’s time or location.
The footage appears to show Ukrainian strike drones targeting Russian military equipment at the airfield, while a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) records the operation from above.
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One drone flies directly into one of two parked MiG-29 fighter jets before exploding. In a separate sequence, another strike drone hits a Pantsir-S1 air defense system positioned to protect the airfield from drones and cruise missiles.
The Militarniy news outlet suggested the MiG-29s may have been used to intercept Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones targeting military infrastructure deep inside Russia.
This is not the first Ukrainian attack on the Khalino airfield. In 2025, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed an aviation weapons depot at the base. The airfield was also targeted by kamikaze drones in 2023.
About the MiG-29
The MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is one of the world’s most widely used fourth-generation light fighter aircraft.
Development of the aircraft began in 1969, with the prototype making its maiden flight in 1977. Serial production started five years later.
Key specifications:
- Crew: one pilot (two in the trainer variant)
- Maximum speed: 2,450 km/h (1,522 mph) (Mach 2.3)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 meters (59,055 feet)
- Combat range: 1,430 km (889 miles), or up to 2,100 km (1,305 miles) with external fuel tanks
- Maximum takeoff weight: 18.1 tons
- Maximum combat payload: 2.18 tons
Compared with the F-16, the MiG-29 is heavier but offers greater payload capacity and, in some configurations, longer range. One of its defining features is its twin-engine design, whereas the F-16 uses a single engine.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, both Ukraine and Russia have relied extensively on the MiG-29. The aircraft played a key role during the battle for Hostomel Airport and was flown by pilots of Ukraine’s 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, whose exploits inspired the legend of the “Ghost of Kyiv.”
For Ukraine, one of the MiG-29’s greatest advantages is that its pilots and maintenance crews have decades of experience operating the aircraft.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said it destroyed a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet and an airfield power unit during a drone attack on the Belbek military airfield in occupied Crimea.
According to a statement released by the agency, the operation was carried out overnight on June 26 by specialists from HUR’s Unmanned Systems Department. The intelligence agency also published video footage purportedly showing the strike.
HUR said the attack destroyed the MiG-29 along with an airfield power unit that was servicing the aircraft at the time. The agency estimated the damage inflicted on the Russian military at tens of millions of dollars.
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