Not One, Ukraine's Intelligence Chief Says Two Bombers Were Destroyed By Drone Attacks On Russian Military Bases

Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidentt.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov revealed that his side's drone strike against Russian airfield a few days ago destroyed two Tupolev Tu-22 bombers and damaged two other bombers.

"Two were destroyed, two were damaged. Two were irreparable," Budanov said in a TV interview for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty service in Ukraine.

Budanov said Russia's fifth plane may have been hit by the attack.

Earlier, Russian officials reported drone attacks on the Soltsy military airfield in the Novgorod region on Saturday and Shaykovka in the Kaluga region on Monday, saying one fighter aircraft was damaged in the first attack.

On Tuesday, British military intelligence said Russia was most likely missing the nuclear-capable TU-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber in the attack on Soltsy.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday the attack was carried out by a Ukrainian helicopter-style drone that was shot down by a light gun fire and no one was injured.

British military intelligence said that if helicopter-model drones were actually used, this would strengthen the alleged attack launched from within Russia, as the drone was unlikely to have the range to reach airfields from outside Russia.

Budanov said his intelligence agency had direct contact with the people who attacked the airfield.

"They are people who carry out certain tasks from Russian territory," he said.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian intelligence spokesman said this week that the agency was coordinating an attack on the Shaykovka airfield.