- Category
- War in Ukraine
Ukraine Strikes Russian Akhtubinsk Airfield, Damaging Su-34 Fighter-Bomber
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan region on August 20, damaging a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to the General Staff, an assessment of the strike confirmed damage to the Su-34 aircraft, as well as a fuel spill on the territory of the airfield.
Akhtubinsk airfield hosts the Russian Defense Ministry’s 929th State Flight Test Center, one of Russia’s primary facilities for testing and evaluating new military aircraft and aviation weapons.
The airfield is also used to base Su-34 aircraft, which Russian forces employ to launch guided aerial bombs against targets in Ukraine, according to the General Staff.
The facility is located approximately 650 kilometers (404 miles) from the frontline.
About Su-34 fighter-bomber
The Su-34 is described by Ukrainian intelligence as one of Russia’s primary platforms for deploying guided aerial bombs fitted with glide and correction modules, including universal gliding and correction modules. These weapons have been used extensively against Ukrainian ground targets.
The fighter-bomber has played a central role in Russia’s aerial campaign during its full-scale war against Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to strike targets at tactical and operational depths while enabling pilots to remain beyond the range of many Ukrainian air defense systems.
-d476282ea42fd111a0a5a3ebd12d0484.jpg)
The Su-34’s production also remains partly outside Western sanctions restrictions. Nearly one-third of Russian companies involved in manufacturing components for the aircraft have not been targeted by Western sanctions, potentially allowing them continued access to foreign technologies and parts.
On March 16, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) published additional information through its War&Sanctions portal identifying manufacturers involved in the production of Russia’s Su-34 fighter-bombers.
Discuss this article:
-38a14791dc719f009d841d99b92cfec3.jpg "Smoke rises from a shopping complex in Kryvyi Rih following a Russian drone strike on August 21, 2026. (Source: Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration)")
