The Ukrainian Navy attacked a Russian base and struck six Su-34M attack aircraft

The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue their counterattacks against the invaders, taking the war into Russian territory.

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On Thursday, October 15, at 9:43 a.m. CET, the Ukrainian Naval Forces announced that overnight they had attacked the Borisoglebsk military airfield, located in Russia’s Voronezh region. This base is situated 238 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack was carried out using R-360 Neptune cruise missiles, which are manufactured in Ukraine and were designed by the Luch Design Bureau in Kyiv.

According to a statement from the Ukrainian Navy, the attack succeeded in striking six Su-34M attack aircraft. Furthermore, as a result of the Ukrainian naval strike, repeated explosions and a fire were reported at the Russian base, within the airfield grounds. The statement notes: "The Su-34M aircraft are capable of carrying various types of guided munitions and explosives simultaneously—including different kinds of missiles—and serve as a key asset for the Russian air force to conduct guided-bomb strikes against positions held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as against settlements along the front line."

This morning, at 11:35 CET, AviVector confirmed the attack with this satellite image of the Borisoglebsk Air Base. The channel, which specializes in satellite intelligence, confirmed that four of the targeted Su-34M aircraft were destroyed.

The Sukhoi Su-34 made its first flight on April 13, 1990. Due to the collapse of the USSR and the precarious situation Russia faced for years, its entry into service was delayed by 19 years, until December 21, 2009. The aircraft remains in production today, with approximately 160 units manufactured. The Su-34 has been used extensively by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, suffering significant setbacks at the hands of Ukrainian defense forces—such as the anti-aircraft ambush in December 2023, in which Russia lost three Su-34s.

According to data from the independent website Oryxspioenkop.com, Russia has lost 43 Su-34s so far, with at least another 4 to be added to that total. This makes it the Russian combat aircraft that has suffered the heaviest losses in this war. The Su-25 ranks second, with 41 units lost. Only two other Russian aircraft have higher loss figures than the Su-34: the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter (69 units) and the Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter (54).

The cruise missile used in this Ukrainian attack, the R-360 Neptune, was first launched in March 2016. It entered service in 2021 and is used by the Ukrainian Navy. It is a subsonic missile, measuring 5.05 meters in length, 38 cm in diameter, and weighing 870 kg. It is powered by a Motor Sich MS400 turbofan engine. The initial version features a 150 kg warhead and has a range of 280 km. The R-360L Neptune-D version has a 260 kg warhead and a range of up to 1,000 km.

The Ukrainian Navy used this type of missile in the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva on April 13, 2022. With a displacement of 12,490 tons, it was the largest warship sunk in combat since the Second World War. Ten days earlier, the Ukrainian Navy also used the Neptune to attack the Russian frigate Admiral Essen, which sustained damage. Once repaired, that same vessel was attacked again with Neptune missiles on September 9, 2026.

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Main photo: Russian Ministry of Defence.