Ukrainian Nighttime Operation Hits Russian Airbase: Two Fighter Jets Disabled

Special Forces Strike 400 Miles from the Border

Under the cover of darkness, Ukrainian special forces struck a Russian airbase in central Russia. The attack took place at the Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region—over 400 miles from Ukraine’s border—and reportedly damaged two Russian fighter jets, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

“Preliminary information indicates that two enemy aircraft were hit (likely MiG-31 and Su-30/34),” the Armed Forces said in a statement, according toTheGuardian.

Operationens fulde resultat er stadig under vurdering, men meldingen peger på et strategisk tilbageslag for Rusland.

The full outcome of the operation is still being assessed, but the initial reports suggest a strategic setback for Russia.

Target: Kinzhal Missiles and the Enemy’s Backbone

The Savasleyka base is home to MiG-31K fighter jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles—some of the most feared weapons in Putin’s arsenal.

These missiles have previously been used against both military targets and civilian cities in Ukraine. A strike on such a base sends a clear message: Ukraine is prepared to wage war deep behind enemy lines.

At the same time, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck a weapons factory in Cheboksary, roughly 750 miles from the border.

The factory produces components for advanced weapons systems such as Iskander missiles and the infamous Lancet drones.

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the attack triggered a massive fire, and air traffic in the area was temporarily suspended.

A New Strategic Peak

The strike follows in the wake of “Operation Spiderweb,” which saw drones hit Russian nuclear-capable bombers.

These events mark a new phase in the war, where Kyiv is engaging in a more offensive and asymmetric style of warfare—combining precision, boldness, and psychological impact.

Despite the dramatic developments, a large-scale prisoner exchange was carried out between the two countries.

Russia confirmed that the first part of the deal—an exchange involving young and wounded soldiers—had been completed.

Russia Pushes Forward Behind the Lines

While Ukraine launched operations deep within Russian territory, the Kremlin stepped up pressure on Ukrainian cities and front-line zones.

In Sumy and Donetsk, Russian forces advanced, and overnight more than 470 drones were launched at Ukraine—the largest drone wave since the war began. The Rivne region in western Ukraine was hit especially hard, with one person reported killed.

Kyiv was not spared either. Explosions rocked the capital, and an office building in the Darnytsia district was damaged. Ukrainian air forces reported shooting down 277 drones and 19 missiles—a testament to the country’s ongoing determination and advanced air defense capabilities.

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