Ukrainian drones strike deep inside Russia, destroy strategic bomber
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) drones destroyed a long-range strategic bomber Tu-22M3 at the Olenya airfield, located 1,800 kilometres from Ukraine and beyond the Arctic Circle in the Murmansk region – media reported on Saturday, citing intelligence sources.
"As a result of the operation by the HUR of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence at the Russian occupiers' strategic aviation base near Olenegorsk, a supersonic long-range bomber Tu-22M3 was destroyed," reported the Ukrainska Pravda portal, quoting a HUR spokesperson.
Attack behind the Arctic Circle
The Tu-22M3 is a bomber carrying X-22 cruise missiles, which can be armed with nuclear warheads. The Ukrainska Pravda source added that the distance from the Ukrainian border to the particular operation site is 1,800 kilometres.
HUR also reported an attack on another Russian strategic aviation base, Engels in the Saratov region, in the European part of the country.
"Explosions at the Engels airfield, where Russian strategic aviation is based, were recorded around 8 AM. On local social networks, it was written that Russian air defence forces unsuccessfully tried to shoot down the drones, but then there were characteristic explosions," reported Ukrainska Pravda.
Attack on the Russian Diaghilevo airfield
Ukrainian media also reported on Saturday, citing Russian sources, that last night, drones attacked the Diaghilevo airfield and an oil refinery near Ryazan, less than 200 kilometres southeast of Moscow.
"In Ryazan, during the night and in the morning, residents reported a drone attack on the Diaghilevo military airfield and an oil refinery. The (Russian) Ministry of Defence reported the downing of seven drones in the region," wrote the ASTRA channel on Telegram.
