Over the last three days, Ukraine has reportedly destroyed five Russian jets, while simultaneously, Britain has alleged that drone attacks originating from its own territory have targeted sites within Russia.
The statement from the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday coincided with Ukrainian media sources citing intelligence inputs that connect a recent string of strikes on Russian air bases to saboteurs.
Of particular note was the destruction of a Tupolev Tu-22 supersonic bomber on Saturday at the Soltsy-2 air base, located south of St Petersburg, about 400 miles away from the Ukrainian border. The Ministry of Defence remarked that it was unlikely that the drone responsible for striking the plane could have been launched from Ukraine.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, a copter-style unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was identified as the perpetrator of the attack. This revelation bolsters the notion that certain UAV assaults on Russian military installations may be originating from within Russian territory itself. The Ministry of Defence further explained that copter UAVs lack the necessary range to reach Soltsy-2 if launched from outside Russia.
While the Russian defence ministry acknowledged the attack on the Soltsy-2 air base in the Novgorod region on Saturday, it downplayed the extent of the damage incurred.
Compelling images released by Ukraine following the incident showcased the Tu-22 bomber engulfed in flames. Numerous open-source intelligence outlets have verified these images, and the BBC’s Russian Service has presented recent satellite imagery corroborating the reports.
A photograph captured on Monday revealed a scorched patch of earth, resembling a parking space for aircraft.
The Tu-22 model, known for its ability to travel at twice the speed of sound, has been frequently deployed to carry out strikes on Ukrainian cities.
While Ukraine lacks the capability to intercept such planes, its military forces have demonstrated their capability to successfully down the missiles launched by these planes.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military intelligence service (GUR) has put forth its own claim that the attack on the Russian air base was executed by a drone launched from within Russian territory. An unnamed GUR official conveyed to The New Voice of Ukraine news website that these drone operations were orchestrated by the GUR and have inflicted significant losses on the Russian air force. The official added that operatives collaborating with the intelligence service managed to disable or inflict damage on five Russian aircraft in recent days.
In a separate development on the same day, reports circulated regarding the dismissal of Gen Sergei Surovikin from his position as the head of the Russian Air Force. Gen Surovikin’s alleged links to the Wagner Group, particularly in the wake of its unsuccessful mutiny in June, reportedly led to his falling out of favor with the Kremlin.
Alexei Venediktov, the editor of the banned Ekho Moskvy radio station, shared an excerpt from a Kremlin decree that indicated Gen Surovikin’s removal from his role but hinted at his retention in some capacity within the defence ministry. The 56-year-old, also known as General Armageddon due to his role in the events in Aleppo, has not made any public appearances since he recorded a video urging Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner Group, to halt the group’s mutiny in June, an effort that ultimately lasted less than 24 hours before being abandoned.
