New Satellite Proof Shows Four Russian Jets Damaged in Chelyabinsk Airbase Strike, Including Su-57

Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Head of the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has revealed the exact toll of a recent long-range drone strike deep inside Russia. He confirmed that four advanced Russian combat aircraft were hit at the Shagol military airfield in Chelyabinsk.

The detailed damage assessment, published by Brovdi on May 1, follows an initial announcement by the Ukrainian General Staff regarding the April 25 operation.

According to the head of SBS, satellite reconnaissance conducted by the General Staff verified that at least three long-range strike weapons successfully hit the airfield, located 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The imagery confirmed varying degrees of damage to four Russian aircraft: two Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighters, one Su-34 fighter-bomber, and one unidentified Sukhoi-series aircraft.

Brovdi emphasized significant financial and tactical blow the strike dealt to the Russian Aerospace Forces. He noted that the Su-34, valued between $35 million and $50 million, is Moscow’s primary platform for launching guided aerial bombs against Ukrainian targets. The Su-57, Russia’s most advanced stealth fighter, costs an estimated $100 million to $120 million per unit.

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War in Ukraine

Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian Su-57 Jets and Su-34 Aircraft At Airbase 1700 Km Deep Inside Russia

May 01, 2026 15:32

“Hunting multi-role Su-34 fighter-bombers and fifth-generation Su-57 fighters is critical to reducing the enemy’s strike potential,” Brovdi stated. He added that neutralizing these aircraft directly decreases the frequency of Russian airstrikes, reduces the strain on Ukraine’s air defense networks, and saves civilian lives.

The Chelyabinsk operation is part of a larger campaign by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces to target Russian aviation assets on their own territory. Just recently, Brovdi reported another strike on a Russian Mi-28 and an Mi-17 helicopter at a field landing strip in the Voronezh region, roughly 150 kilometers from the frontline.

The helicopters were hit directly in their engine compartments while grounded for refueling and technical inspections, killing at least one Russian maintenance specialist. The Voronezh operation was jointly coordinated by the 429th Achilles Brigade, the 43rd Artillery Brigade, and the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) Special Operations Center “A”.

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