Photos Show Devastation after Ukraine Strikes Russian Airfield Ammo Storage

Photos have been released purportedly showing the devastation caused after Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Morozovsk military air base, destroying a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber and ammunition.

The images, first published by Telegram channel Dosye Shpiona, were shared by Russian military analyst Ian Matveev on X (formerly Twitter). Ukrainian Defense Intelligence said Monday that the attack in the southern Rostov region on August 3 destroyed one of Russia's $36 million midrange Su-34 strike jets and damaged two others.

The Morozovsk military airfield is located more than 160 miles from Ukraine's front line. It hosts Russian tactical Su-27 and Su-34 fighter-bombers, which are used to launch airstrikes against Ukraine, according to Ukraine's SBU security service.

The air base has been targeted by the SBU multiple times throughout the war, which began in February 2022. Kyiv has said that Russian military bases are legitimate targets in the conflict, and its forces regularly target them using long-range drones.

"Destroyed warehouse at Morozovsk airfield. Almost the entire range of ammunition for the Su-34 can be seen. FAB 100 to 500 aerial bombs were destroyed... KAB-500 guided aerial bombs and a rare KAB-1500 [Russian precision guided weapon]," Matveev wrote, adding that destroyed R-73 air-to-air missiles can also been seen in the images.

"The wreckage of the Su-34 itself can be seen in several photos (bright blue). Including the torn-off Khibiny electronic warfare unit - it is located in the wingtip," the military analyst said.

Russian authorities didn't comment on the alleged destruction of the Su-34 aircraft. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.

The Russian Telegram channel Rybar, founded by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a former employee of Russia's Defense Ministry, reported that the Morozovsk airfield was targeted by Ukraine with a large number of drones. "Judging by the videos that appeared online, the drones were flying at an extremely low altitude, which increased their stealth from radar detection," the channel said.

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence shared satellite images on Monday, saying they showed that Russia's "aviation arsenal" had been "completely destroyed."

"Large areas of scorched earth are visible from the secondary detonation of Russian ammunition on the territory of the airfield and around it," it said on Telegram.

Schemes, a project by U.S.-funded Radio Liberty, also obtained satellite images of the airfield from California-based global imaging company Planet Labs. Russian ammunition warehouses were damaged in the attack and "traces of fire" were visible near buildings and parking areas, the publication said.

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