Ukraine claims to have destroyed warplanes at Russian base

A Ukrainian defense source said security services (SBU) and the army carried out a “special operation” at night against the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, southwest Russia. Although this information could not be independently verified, the attack reportedly destroyed six Russian military aircraft and damaged eight others. According to Kyiv, 20 employees of the Morozovsk airfield were also killed and injured.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the operation was described as “important” because the military base is used by Russian tactical bombers, which the Moscow Air Force uses to fire guided bombs at the Ukrainian army and cities on the front line.

This attack was likely carried out by drones. While Russia has not confirmed the attack on the airfield, it did say it intercepted more than 40 Ukrainian drones in the region and acknowledged damage to electrical infrastructure. Struggling on the ground and suffering from constant bombing, Ukraine has significantly stepped up drone attacks on targets in Russia in recent weeks.

Ultralight aircraft turned into attack drone?

On Tuesday, a rather unusual Ukrainian drone struck the main unit of Russia’s third-largest oil refinery and drone manufacturing plant, Shahed, in the Tatarstan region, more than 1,100 km from Ukraine. Indeed, the drone used was actually a ULM Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat modified for remote piloting.

Ukrainian engineers even added an additional tank to increase its flight range. This unmanned ultralight aircraft, which still has a wingspan of 9.55 m and flies at a speed of just 155 km/h, would have flown over Russia for more than 7 hours without being detected.