A Ukrainian military source revealed that a Ukrainian warplane has fired a weapon at a target inside Russia for the first time. The strike reportedly hit a “Russian command node” in the Belgorod area of western Russia, close to the northeastern Ukrainian border.
Details about the type of munition used, including whether it was a Western weapon, were not immediately available. Recently, both the United States and France stated that Ukrainian armed forces had permission to use their weapons to target military sites within Russia, from where Russian forces are launching attacks against Ukraine.
Read more: Putin Reiterates Russia’s Willingness To Provide Weapons To Western Adversaries
President Joe Biden approved new guidance allowing American munitions to be used on Russian soil to aid in defending the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the UK foreign secretary, Lord Cameron, indicated that it was up to Ukraine to determine the use of British weapons, such as Storm Shadow cruise missiles deployable by Ukrainian jets.
Speaking anonymously, a military source stated, “A Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) mission targeted a Russian command node in Belgorod.”
“While damage assessment is ongoing, it’s confirmed as a direct hit. This marks the first UAF air-delivered munition against a target within Russia.” Although Ukraine has conducted numerous drone strikes deep into Russian territory, using a warplane to target within Russia may be viewed by Moscow as a new escalation.
The Russian defense ministry reported the downing of several Ukrainian drones in the Belgorod region. It remains unclear if this was related to the same attack.
Ukraine is also attacking Russian vessels:
Additionally, the Ukrainian military source revealed that on Saturday evening, Ukrainian forces executed a “coordinated strike” against a Russian landing ship in the Sea of Azov, previously stationed in the Black Sea. This marks the fifth of seven Ropucha-class landing ships to be sunk or rendered inoperable by Ukrainian attacks.
“This successful strike demonstrates to the Russians that they cannot operate freely in the Black Sea or eastward,” the source commented.
According to the source, Russian military uses such ships to transport ammunition and supplies to the occupied city of Mariupol for distribution to the frontline.
“By intercepting Russian shipments of ammunition and crucial military supplies, this strike will directly bolster Ukrainian troops in their ongoing battle,” the source emphasized.
Stealth aircraft hit in separate strike 400 miles from front
In a separate attack, Ukraine targeted a stealth jet located 400 miles away from the frontline, according to Kyiv’s main military intelligence service as reported by the Press.
The specific weapons used in the strike were not immediately disclosed, but given the airfield’s distance from Ukraine, it is likely that drones were employed.
If confirmed, this would mark the first successful Ukrainian strike on a Su-57 fighter plane, described as one of Moscow’s most advanced military aircraft.
These latest details emerge following a report by AP, citing a US senator and a Western official, which stated that Ukraine had recently utilized US weapons to conduct strikes inside Russia.
