Ukrainian drones destroy strategic bomber in daring Arctic attack

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) drones destroyed a long-range strategic bomber Tu-22M3 at the Olenya airfield, located 1,120 miles from Ukraine and behind the Arctic Circle in the Murmansk region, media reported on Saturday, citing intelligence sources.

"As a result of the HUR operation of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense at the Russian occupiers' strategic aviation base near Olenegorsk, a supersonic long-range bomber Tu-22M3 was destroyed," reported the Ukrainska Pravda portal, quoting a HUR spokesperson.

The Tu-22M3 is a bomber carrying X-22 cruise missiles, which can be armed with nuclear warheads. The Ukrainska Pravda source added that the distance from the Ukrainian border to the special operation site is 1,120 miles.

HUR also reported an attack on another Russian strategic aviation base, Engels, in the Saratov region in the European part of the country.

"Explosions at the Engels airfield, where Russian strategic aviation is based, were recorded around 8 AM (2 AM Eastern Time). On local social networks, it was written that Russian air defense forces unsuccessfully tried to shoot down the drones, but then there were characteristic explosions," reported Ukrainska Pravda.

Ukrainian media also reported on Saturday, citing Russian sources, that last night drones attacked the Diaghilevo airfield and an oil refinery near Ryazan, less than 124 miles southeast of Moscow.

"In Ryazan, at night and in the morning, residents reported a drone attack on the Diaghilevo military airfield and an oil refinery. The (Russian) Ministry of Defense reported the downing of seven drones in the region," wrote the ASTRA channel on Telegram.