Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
According to Ukraine, that brings the total loss of Russian aircraft to 432 during the war.
A covert operation deep inside Russian territory has added to mounting pressure on Moscow’s air power, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) says the strike was the result of weeks of preparation and careful surveillance, underscoring Kyiv’s expanding reach beyond the battlefield.
Nighttime strike
HUR reported on Dec. 22 on Telegram, that two Russian Su-30 fighter jets were set on fire during an overnight operation on Dec. 21. The attack targeted a military airfield near the city of Lipetsk, roughly 340 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Initial reports from HUR said one Su-30 and one Su-27 were damaged. The agency later reported that both aircraft affected were Su-30s.
HUR said the jets ignited while inside a hangar, causing significant damage to the aircraft.
How it unfolded
According to HUR, the operation followed a detailed study of patrol patterns and guard schedules at the base. This allowed an operative to enter the facility, attack the aircraft, and leave without being detected.
Planning took about two weeks, the agency said. The mission was carried out by a “representative of the resistance movement” opposed to the Russian government.
Ukrainian intelligence estimated the combined value of the damaged aircraft at up to $100 million.
Air power pressure
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian aviation assets. Two days earlier, Ukrainian drones struck two Su-27 jets at the Belbek airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, 432 Russian aircraft have been destroyed since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The Su-30 is a two-seat, multirole fighter with extended range and upgraded avionics, while the related Su-27 platform was designed primarily for air superiority.
Russia uses these aircraft for patrols, intercept missions, and strikes linked to operations against Ukraine.
Sources: Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), Ukraine’s General Staff
