Ukrainian forces have struck a military airfield in Russia, targeting warplanes and glide-bomb facilities used to launch deadly attacks against Ukraine, a security source has revealed.
The source said the operation on Thursday night was part of a “sustained campaign to degrade the Russian Air Force” just as Ukraine has done with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Satellite imagery shared by the source purported to show two SU-34 fighter-bombers at the Morozovsk airbase in southern Russia as well as a white structure before the attack.
A second image is purported to show the aftermath, with both aircraft and the structure destroyed.
There has been no official confirmation about the strikes from Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine latest: Putin’s ceasefire offer labelled a ‘sham’
This picture purports to show two aircraft and a structure destroyed.
Russian officials and local media reported a drone attack in the city of Morozovsk, according to the Kyiv Independent news outlet.
‘Mass attack’
It quoted the regional governor as saying Russian air defences faced a “mass attack”, which left some parts of the area without power.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The Ukrainian security source said Ukraine’s “precision strikes” targeted SU-34 jets and “glide-bomb munition facilities” at the airfield.
“The targets were struck to degrade Russia’s ability to conduct airstrikes on [the northeastern region of] Kharkiv,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“This will support Ukraine’s campaign to push the Russian ground forces [RGF] back from the temporarily occupied territories.”
The airbase was also hit in April, as reported by Sky News, with SU-34 jets that were being used in glide-bomb attacks being targeted.
More from Sky News:
Where will Putin’s escalation end?
US reporter to stand trial in Russia
A satellite image of the Morozovsk airbase taken on 28 March. Pic: Planet Labs PBC
Russian forces use the warplanes to launch strikes on civilian infrastructure, according to the source.
“Additionally, these aircraft are fitted with glide-bomb technology allowing them to release bombs further away from their targets,” they said.
“This strike will impede Russia’s ability to conduct such strikes in the future and allow UAF [Ukrainian armed forces] troops to push back RGF with a reduced threat of air attack.”