Ukraine hits 6 Russian Su-34 bomber jets with Neptune missile, military says

On October 15, Ukraine's naval forces claimed to have launched a successful attack on six Russian Su-34M bomber jets at the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia's Voronezh region. The attack was executed using Ukraine's domestically produced Neptune coastal missile system, which boasts a maximum range of several hundred kilometers. According to Ukraine's General Staff, all six Su-34M jets sustained damage to varying degrees, with explosions and a fire also reported on the airfield grounds.

Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev had previously issued multiple warnings about potential drone attacks. Visual evidence of the assault, captured by local residents, depicted explosions and a substantial fire at the airfield. The Borisoglebsk military airfield lies approximately 370 kilometers away from the front line.

The Neptune missile, a ground-launched, domestically developed anti-ship cruise missile, was deployed in Ukraine for the first time in April 2022 to sink Russia's Black Sea flagship, the Moskva. In 2025, Ukraine introduced an upgraded version of the missile, which showcased a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. In March 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful completion of testing for the system, and its deployment for combat use.

The Su-34M is a heavily modified and upgraded variant of the original Su-34 fighter-bomber. Russia operates the Su-34, a medium-range fighter-bomber. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted warplanes in assaults on Russian military airfields and have reported downing the jets on multiple occasions.