Russia uses Marinovka for its daily combat operations, but it has also functioned as a haven for dispersed aircraft<\/a> taken from other threatened air bases, Britain’s defense ministry said in a Tuesday intel update that confirmed some details of the attack.<\/p>\n Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft were relocated to Marinovka from Morozovsk air base, which is closer to the front lines, after it was hit by Ukrainian drones<\/a> in August. But “despite these dispersal efforts to protect their aircraft, Russian aviation remains vulnerable” to Kyiv’s attacks, the defense ministry said.<\/p>\n The attack on Marinovka on Friday was a joint operation carried out by Ukraine’s SBU internal security agency, its Special Operations Forces, and other elements of the military.<\/p>\n The SBU said that the attack destroyed two Su-34 and damaged two other aircraft, while the military said all four planes were destroyed. Ukraine also noted that the drone attacks caused a fire in the maintenance and repair areas of the air base. Business Insider couldn’t immediately confirm the details of the operation.<\/p>\n Britain’s defense ministry said Ukraine destroyed at least two Su-34s in the attack last week.<\/p>\n Vadim Savitsky\/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP<\/p>\n The Su-34 “Fullback” fleet has been a serious problem for Ukraine, as Russia arms these aircraft with its highly destructive glide bombs<\/a> and employs them to devastating effect.<\/p>\n Related stories<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know<\/p>\n Glide bombs are unguided dumb bombs fitted with special kits that turn them into precision-guided munitions. With short flight times, small radar signatures, and non-ballistic trajectories, they are incredibly difficult to intercept and have been used in deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities.<\/p>\n Russia’s defense industry produces glide bombs in a range of different sizes. Among the larger munitions is one that weighs more than 6,000 pounds<\/a>, which is very destructive on impact.<\/p>\n Britain’s defense ministry said Russia relies on its Su-34 fleet to execute “huge amounts of daily sorties launching glide bombs” across the front lines. It further added that Moscow had lost more than 30 of these aircraft since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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