Ukraine on Sunday carried out a surprised drone attack on Russian airfields and claimed that it has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes.
Russia confirmed Ukrainian drone attack and said that several of its military aircraft "caught fire".
Russia's Ministry of Defence, on Telegram, said that Ukraine carried out what it said was a "terrorist attack" in the regions of Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur.
An Ukrainian official said the attack took over a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The official said that the strikes were conducted by the SBU domestic intelligence agency and reportedly more than 40 aircraft were hit, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine, according to Kyiv Independent.
What aircrafts were destroyed in Ukrainian strike
Beriev A-50
The Beriev A-50 is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft that is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane.
The A-50 plays a crucial role in Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, serving functions such as detecting enemy air defense systems, tracking guided missiles, and coordinating targets for Russian fighter aircraft. With fewer than ten in service, each A-50 carries an estimated cost of $350 million.
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. It first flew in 1952 and was originally designed to carry nuclear weapons.
Later, it adapted to launch cruise missiles, including the Kh-55, Kh-555, and the more advanced Kh-101 and Kh-102. It was engineered for long-range missions, with Cold War-era efficiency allowing it to reach the United States without refueling.
Tupolev Tu-22
The Tu-22 carries the high-speed Kh-22 missile, which presents a serious threat to Ukraine. Capable of reaching speeds around 4,000 kilometers per hour, it can currently be intercepted only by advanced systems like the US-made Patriot or the Italian-French SAMP-T air defense systems.
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tu-160, Russia’s most modern strategic bomber, entered service in 1987 and remains the largest operational bomber in the world. It is capable of carrying up to 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles or 24 Kh-15s, offering significant firepower in long-range operations.
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