MiG-31 and Two Il-76 Aircraft Confirmed Destroyed at Russian Airfield by Massive Drone Strikes

The head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, revealed that Ukrainian intelligence has launched drone attacks targeting a signals intelligence center near Moscow, an airport in the Moscow region, and a Russian airbase in the Rostov region. Additionally, footage surfaced on social media showing an attempted drone strike near Olenya Air Base in Murmansk, which houses Russian strategic bombers in the Arctic Circle, about 1,200 miles from Ukraine.

“We conducted a couple of drone operations today,” Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), told The War Zone.

In these operations, HUR struck not only the signals intelligence center but also Ostafyevo Airport in Moscow and Millerovo Air Base in the Rostov region. According to Budanov, approximately 50 drones were deployed in total.

Ostafyevo Airport, which serves multiple roles for the Russian Ministry of Defense, saw the construction of two large circular antenna arrays in 2018, indicating its strategic signals and communications mission. However, Budanov noted that the airport was a “deceptive target,” describing it as “an airfield for transport aviation.” He clarified that the actual signals intelligence center targeted is located in the Podolsk District of Moscow, about five miles south of the airfield. It’s also possible that another signals intelligence facility in the Moscow region was struck.

Russian officials claimed they intercepted and downed all drones aimed at Moscow and other regions. Moscow’s mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, described the attack as one of the largest of its kind.

Budanov also disclosed that a previous Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian airfield led to the destruction of a MiG-31 interceptor and two Il-76 Candid transport aircraft at Savasleyka Air Base, about 400 miles northeast of Ukraine, on August 16.

At the time, it was reported that around 10 drones were involved in the attack, with video footage capturing a drone’s fiery impact near the flight line, identifiable by the distinctive tail of a Candid aircraft.

Savasleyka is a Long-Range Aviation base, primarily focused on offensive missions, and is home to aircraft, modified to carry the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, a weapon that has been used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.