Satellite images confirm: 4 Russian Su-34 bombers destroyed, 2 damaged in Ukrainian Neptune strike

Fresh satellite imagery of Borisoglebsk airfield in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast shows four Russian Su-34M fighter-bombers completely destroyed and two more significantly damaged after Ukraine’s Navy struck the base with Neptune cruise missiles overnight on October 15, according to monitoring channels as carried by Euromaidan Press.

The GEOINT project CyberBoroshno, which reviewed imagery sourced from AviVector, concluded there was nothing left to analyze and that the Neptunes had taken care of everything.

There is still some discussion regarding the actual number of Su-34 bombers destroyed, but the OSINT and monitoring channel Exilenova+ has published satellite imagery of what it says are six Su-34 aircraft parked at the site of impact on October 13.

After reviewing other available footage, Exilenova+’s Telegram channel concludes that the Neptune strike destroyed four of the Su-34s and damaged another two.

A single salvo, more than Russia built this year

The Ukrainian Navy said the overnight strike hit six Su-34M bombers at Borisoglebsk and destroyed technical equipment used to support flights, with secondary explosions and a fire recorded on the base, Ukrinform reported, citing the Navy’s statement.

A pre-strike satellite image dated October 13 showed six Su-34 airframes parked at the facility, matching the number the Navy later said it had hit.

Set against Russia’s own production, the number lands harder. Only four to five new Su-34s have been delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces so far in 2026, UNITED24 Media reported, citing Defense Express’s review of Russian industry announcements.

Russia had already lost at least three Su-34s destroyed or damaged earlier this year, bringing the running total to at least nine affected airframes in 2026.

The jet behind the glide bombs

The Su-34M is one of the Russian air force’s primary platforms for launching guided aerial bombs fitted with UMPK glide-and-guidance kits, the weapon that has repeatedly flattened residential blocks in Ukrainian border towns and front-line cities.

The aircraft can carry several guided and high-explosive bombs at the same time, as well as various types of missiles.

In its statement, Ukraine’s Navy said the destruction of the Su-34Ms at Borisoglebsk “significantly weakens Russia’s air capabilities and reduces the intensity of tactical aviation operations along the relevant sections of the front.”

Russian authorities quiet on the airfield losses

Voronezh Oblast Governor Aleksandr Gusev declared a regional missile alert around 22:00 on October 14 and later said air defenses had downed 33 drones and several jet-powered aerial targets during the night, without acknowledging any damage at Borisoglebsk.

Moscow has not released a damage assessment of its own for the base.

This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation