- Ukrainian special forces destroyed two Russian light aircraft adapted for drone interception at an airfield in occupied Zaporizhzhia.
- The SBU released video of the strike, that was conducted about 85 kilometers behind the front line.
Ukrainian forces have carried out a targeted strike on Russian aircraft stationed at an airfield in occupied Zaporizhzhia, eliminating two light planes recently adapted to intercept Ukrainian long-range drones.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released a video of the operation on October 21, showing the attack taking place roughly 85 kilometers behind the front lines.
In a statement posted alongside the video, the SBU said: “This time, our specialists ‘zeroed out’ two light aircraft that the occupiers deployed at airfields and used to shoot down Ukrainian long-range drones.” The agency added that the operation was part of broader efforts to ensure “uninterrupted strikes in the Russian rear.”
The agency described the action as a continuation of ongoing sabotage operations against Russia’s layered defenses. “Such work to ‘clear the way’ for our long-range drones ensures continuous strikes in the Russian rear. The SBU continues to hit the occupiers with all available means,” the statement read.
The targeted aircraft were identified as light propeller-driven planes reportedly modified by Russian forces to conduct low-cost drone interception. A few days prior to the SBU strike, Russian state television aired footage showing adapted Cessna and Yak-52 aircraft being used in this role. The broadcasts framed the effort as an improvised countermeasure to the growing threat posed by Ukrainian long-range drones operating deep into occupied territory and across the border.
Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on long-range drones to strike oil depots, ammunition storage sites, and radar installations far from the front lines, particularly in regions where manned aircraft operations are either too risky or logistically impractical.
By targeting aircraft modified for drone interception, Ukrainian forces aim to reduce the effectiveness of Russian air patrols and create more favorable conditions for the use of long-range drones in contested or deep-operational zones.
The exact location of the strike was not specified in the SBU’s release, but the coordinates point to a military facility in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Independent verification of the aftermath is limited due to restricted access in the area.