Title: Ukrainian Forces Step Up Efforts to Weaken Russian Air Superiority with Drone Strikes on Russian Bases
Subtitle: Ukrainian counteroffensive targets Russian air bases to dent Moscow’s dominance in the skies
Date: [Current Date]
Ukrainian forces have reportedly launched a series of drone strikes on Russian military air bases, deep inside Russian territory, in an attempt to weaken Russian air superiority in the ongoing conflict. Recent attacks on the Shaykovka Russian military air facility and Soltsy military airfield have targeted bases housing supersonic warplanes.
On Monday, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a drone strike on the Shaykovka Russian military air facility, located approximately 200 kilometers northeast of the Ukrainian border. The attack left at least one aircraft damaged, according to Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. Yusov revealed that the strike was carried out in coordination with the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, emphasizing that similar tasks are carried out from within Russian territory in many other cases.
The Shaykovka military air base is known for operating Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bombers, which have been utilized by Russia for striking targets in Ukraine since the initiation of the full-scale invasion last year. Just last week, Ukrainian authorities reported that aircraft from Shaykovka launched four Kh-22 cruise missiles towards Ukraine.
In a separate incident over the weekend, a Ukrainian drone targeted the Soltsy military airfield in the Novgorod region, hundreds of kilometers north of Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the drone strike, alleging that it caused a fire at the airfield. While the extent of the damage is yet to be officially confirmed, Ukrainian media reports suggest that several aircraft, including two bombers, were destroyed in recent attacks on Russian bases.
Moscow’s dominance in the skies has posed a significant obstacle for Ukraine’s counteroffensive. However, with the prospect of receiving F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands and Denmark, Ukraine hopes to reduce Russia’s air power advantage. Nonetheless, it will take several months before Ukrainian pilots can be trained to use the aircraft effectively.
Despite Russia’s lack of official comment, Ukrainian forces continue to target Russian air bases to degrade Moscow’s morale. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian military bloggers have claimed that relatively low-cost quadcopter drones were used in the attacks. They also criticized the Russian Ministry of Defense for failing to store the aircraft in protected hangars.
The ISW suggests that while the destruction of two Tu-22M3 bombers may not significantly impact Russia’s military capabilities, the attacks serve to support larger Ukrainian efforts aimed at undermining Russian morale.
In the face of these drone strikes, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond as efforts to deescalate the conflict and find a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine continue.