Social media images have emerged showing a Tupolev Tu-22 aircraft engulfed in flames at the Soltsy-2 airbase located near St Petersburg. While Moscow has claimed that the drone was engaged and caused some "damage" to the aircraft, Ukraine has remained silent on the incident.

The targeted Tupolev Tu-22 bomber is well-known for its remarkable capability to travel at twice the speed of sound and has played a pivotal role in Russia's offensives against Ukrainian cities.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has stated that the attack, executed by a "copter-type UAV," took place around 10:00 Moscow time at the Novgorod region's military airfield, where Soltsy-2 is situated. Although the Ministry reported only minor damage and no casualties, images circulated on the messaging platform Telegram portray a substantial fire consuming the recognizable Tu-22 aircraft.

While the destruction of a single aircraft may not severely impair Russia's extensive fleet of 60 bombers, this operation underscores Kyiv's growing capability to penetrate deep into Russian territory.

Recent months have witnessed Kyiv deploying numerous fixed-wing drones for attacks on Moscow, a voyage spanning several hundred miles. The targeted Soltsy-2 airbase, positioned approximately 400 miles (650km) from the Ukrainian border, has been the focus of this strike.

The Russian Ministry of Defence's description of the drone as a "copter-type UAV" suggests the employment of a potentially cost-effective, commercially available device designed for short-range operations. The Tu-22, codenamed "Backfire" by NATO and originating from the Cold War era, is a supersonic swing-wing bomber that has been extensively used in assaults on Ukrainian cities.

Modern iterations such as the Tu-22M3 boast speeds of Mach 2 and a payload capacity of up to 24,000kg, encompassing guided missiles and conventional bombs. These bombers have been active in conflicts including Syria, Chechnya, Georgia, and more recently, Ukraine.

Prosecutors in Kyiv have claimed that a missile launched from a Tu-22 struck an apartment building in Dnipro, resulting in 30 fatalities. This attack has been attributed to Russia's 52nd Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment, stationed at the Soltsy-2 airbase.

In a related development, a spokesperson for Ukraine's defence intelligence service has reported damage to another military aircraft due to a drone strike in Russia's Kaluga region. While Russian media acknowledged the attack, they vehemently denied any resulting damage.

This event underscores the evolving landscape of modern warfare, with drones becoming increasingly utilized for offensive operations. (ILKHA)