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| Ukraine Attacks Russian Su-34 Bomber Air Base in Rostov region |
International Military - The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are reported to have carried out an offensive operation in the late evening of December 17 against a Russian air base located in the Rostov region.
Sources in intelligence circles, speaking to Hromadske, emphasized that the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region was targeted because it is the headquarters of the 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force.
At the time of the attack, reports indicated the presence of up to 20 Su-34 fighter-bombers, three radar stations and various other military equipment at the airfield. Despite Russia's quick statement that all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been intercepted, images emerged on social media platforms showing the damage inflicted on the Su-34 jet by the kamikaze drone attack.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that 33 other drones were destroyed or intercepted by Russian air defense systems in the Lipetsk, Rostov and Volgograd regions.
The governor of the Rostov region, Vasiliy Golubev, stated that most of the drones launched in the region had been completely destroyed, and that no casualties had been reported as a result of the attacks. However, a video circulating on the Russian Telegram channel shows a fire in the Rostov region which was allegedly caused by the Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack.
It is not known for certain whether this kamikaze drone attack actually succeeded in damaging a number of Russian Su-34s. Usually within a few days after an attack additional evidence will appear that is circulated via Ukrainian and Russian social media.