ONE of Putin’s prized war planes has been damaged after a kamikaze drone strike deep inside Russian territory.
The attack, at the military airport in the Novgorod region more than 700 miles from Ukraine, witnessed a “helicopter style” drone.
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The ministry said nobody was hurt and the fire was quickly extinguished.
The Russian defence ministry admitted a strike: “The Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack using a copter-type UAV on a military airfield in Novgorod region.”
“As a result of the terrorist attack on the territory of the airfield, a fire broke out in the aircraft parking lot, which was promptly eliminated by fire brigades.
“One plane was damaged, but there were no casualties as a result of the terrorist attack.”
In a separate statement cited by Russian news agencies, the Defence Ministry said a Ukrainian plane-type drone had been shot down over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.
The Soltsy air field is known as a base for Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers which have been used to target Ukraine.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3 was deployed for the first time by Russia in its war with Ukraine during the “carpet-bombing” of Mariupol.
It has an operational range of nearly 7,000km, putting all of Europe and the east coast of the United States within its scope.
These Soviet-designed general-purpose air-dropped bombs with a high-explosive warhead are old but devastating in their indiscriminate damage.
The Tu22M can also carry Kh-15 nuclear or anti-radar missiles, as well as Kh-22 long-range naval strike missiles.
Writing in The National Interest, national security expert Mark Episkopos said: “One of the most recognizable symbols of Russian airpower, the Tu-22M3 has distinguished itself over its three decades of service as an effective and eminently reliable strategic bomber.”
Today, Russia has more than 60 in operation.
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