Ukraine says Neptune missiles hit six Russian Su-34M bombers

Ukraine’s navy says it hit a Russian military airfield with Neptune missiles, striking six Su-34M bombers. The Telegram channel Exilenova+ was the first to report the attack on Wednesday evening, saying a large fire had broken out at the site.

The Ukrainian navy confirmed the strike. “As a result of the strike, six Su-34M bombers were hit,” it said in a Facebook post. According to the navy, air traffic support equipment was also destroyed, and repeated explosions and fire were recorded on the airfield grounds. It added that the information is being clarified.

The first report of the fire came on Wednesday shortly before 10 p.m. (11 p.m. Voronezh time).

The navy noted that Su-34M bombers can carry several guided aerial bombs and missiles of various types at once. In its assessment, they are one of the key assets of Russian aviation for guided-bomb strikes on Ukrainian defence positions and on populated areas near the front. Destroying these aircraft, the navy said, significantly weakens the enemy’s air capability and reduces the intensity of tactical aviation deployment in the relevant sectors of the front.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz