On Sunday, Ukraine claimed that its forces had struck a state-of-the-art Russian warplane located at an air base, which was roughly 370 miles away from the front lines.
The main military intelligence service in Kyiv recently released satellite images that purportedly showed the aftermath of a successful attack. If the attack is confirmed, it would signify Ukraine’s initial known strike on a twin-engine Su-57 stealth jet. The Su-57 is considered Moscow’s most advanced fighter plane, making this accomplishment particularly noteworthy.
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The concrete strip surrounding the parked aircraft in the photo reveals black soot marks and small craters. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that the strike occurred on Saturday, at the Akhtubinsk base in southern Russia, which is approximately 366 miles away from the front line.
According to the Ukrainian agency, the Su-57 aircraft has the capability to transport stealth missiles over long distances, and it is one of the few in Moscow’s arsenal. As per reports from Russian agencies, the air force of Moscow has acquired “more than 10” new Su-57s in the previous year and has placed an order for a total of 76 to be delivered by 2028.
During a television interview, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, stated that the attack on the military base may have caused harm to two Su-57 jets that were parked there, as well as injured Russian personnel.
Yusov has stated that there may be two Su-57 aircraft that have been impacted, although he has not provided any substantiating evidence at this time.
In April, Ukrainian media reported that Moscow was attempting to keep its Su-57 fleet away from Ukrainian firepower, according to Ilya Yevlash, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force.
Recently, the United States and Germany have given their approval for Ukraine to use the long-range weapons they have provided to Kyiv to target some areas on Russian soil. As a result, a strike has been initiated. President Joe Biden has allowed U.S. weapons to be used for the sole purpose of defending Kharkiv, which happens to be Ukraine’s second-largest city. Under the new guidelines, Ukraine has already made use of American arms to carry out strikes inside Russia.
It is highly probable that the drones used in the recent attack on the Russian airbase were manufactured in Ukraine, given the distance between the airstrip and Ukraine and unofficial statements from Russia. In response to Moscow’s invasion over two years ago, Ukraine has increased its production of domestic drones and utilized them to launch attacks inside Russia. For instance, in January, drones were used to target a gas terminal located over 600 miles to the north of the border in St. Petersburg.
According to the Fighterbomber channel, experts are currently assessing whether the Su-57 can be restored or not following its recent combat loss. Should restoration prove impossible, it would mark the first time a Su-57 has been lost in combat.
In a recent Telegram post, Aleksandr Kharchenko, a military correspondent for Russia’s state-run RIA news agency, criticized Moscow’s inability to construct hangars to safeguard their aircraft. However, the post did not explicitly address the strike incident.
On Saturday, the Ministry announced that their forces had shot down three drones belonging to Ukraine in the Astrakhan region, which houses the Akhtubinsk airstrip. According to Igor Babushkin, the Governor of Astrakhan, Ukraine made an attempt to target a facility in the region, but the attack was unsuccessful.
NATO’s moniker for Russia’s Su-57s, “Felons,” has become well-known due to their absence from the skies over Ukraine. Instead, they have been utilized for launching long-range missiles across the border. According to an intelligence briefing by the U.K. Ministry of Defence, it is likely that Russia is attempting to prevent any “reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology” that would arise from losing any of these advanced jets in enemy territory.
“Common sense” war tactics
Local Russian officials report that Ukrainian forces continue to carry out drone attacks on Russia’s southern border regions.
Late on Saturday, Belgorod province was attacked by three drones, causing damage to a power line and windows. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, according to Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov. The Russian Defense Ministry further stated that on Sunday, five more drones and a missile made in Ukraine were brought down over the same region.
On Sunday afternoon, Ukrainian drones successfully targeted an ammunition depot located just 22 miles from Ukraine in the town of Rakitnoye. Pepel (Ashes), a channel operated by Belgorod journalists based outside Russia, reported the news. Videos shared on social media showed thick clouds of smoke billowing into the sky. In one of the videos, a woman’s voice can be heard questioning whether soldiers resided in the targeted area.
Although there were claims that the fire broke out in a residential building in Rakitnoye, Governor Gladkov did not give a direct response to these allegations. However, he did confirm that a fire occurred in a non-residential building in the area and thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
Regional officials have reported that at least three civilians were killed and nine others were wounded due to Russian shelling in front-line provinces across Ukraine. The shelling occurred on Saturday and overnight.
According to Governor Oleh Syniehubov, the village of Khotimlya in the eastern region of Kharkiv witnessed the death of a man, while two women sustained injuries as a result of shelling. Syniehubov also reported that the local school, council building, shop, and private homes suffered damages due to the shelling incident.
Ukrainian troops are engaged in intense battles to repel the invading forces of Russia. The weekslong push by Moscow has raised concerns for the safety of Kharkiv, which is just 12 miles away from the Russian border. As a result, a wave of civilian evacuations has been witnessed in the area. Despite the ongoing struggle, the Ukrainian troops are determined to defend their territory.
The focus of Russia’s latest offensive has been the Kharkiv region, but they are also testing Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk, further south. Additionally, Russia has launched incursions in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions to the north.
Ukrainian and Western officials believe that the recent loosening of restrictions on the use of Western weapons can aid in protecting Kharkiv by targeting Russian capabilities across the border. However, the extent of its impact on the ongoing war remains uncertain, especially during this critical period.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, referred to the move as “common sense,” despite the furious response it received from Moscow and the warnings of potential NATO involvement in a war with Russia.
During an interview with “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Sullivan addressed the Russian offensive taking place near Kharkiv. He expressed confusion over the decision to prevent Ukrainian forces from firing across the border to target Russian guns and emplacements that were attacking them. “It simply didn’t make sense,” Sullivan stated.
President Biden issued a public apology to Ukraine last week for a delay in providing American military aid, which allowed Russia to make significant gains on the battlefield over several months.
While in Paris, Mr. Biden expressed his apologies to the Ukrainian people for the uncertainty they faced during the six months when a $61 billion military aid package was held up by conservative Republicans in Congress. He made this statement a day after participating in the 80th anniversary events of D-Day in Normandy.
During a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Biden praised him for his unwavering dedication and refusal to back down. “You continue to fight in a way that is just remarkable, just remarkable,” Biden expressed with admiration. He assured Zelenskyy that the United States would stand by Ukraine and would not abandon them.
