Ukrainian drone attack cripples key Russian airbase, destroys Su‑34s

Satellite images have emerged showing the aftermath of the Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Marinovka airbase in the Vologda region. The significant losses include key aircraft for Moscow's operations, such as the Su-34.

During the night of 21 to 22 August 2024, the Ukrainians carried out an attack on the Russian Marinovka airbase, which caused a fire on the airbase grounds and a series of secondary explosions. It turns out that the Russians failed to evacuate all of the approximately 30 stationed aircraft in time. Only aircraft that were operational were saved, while those undergoing, for example, repairs were destroyed or severely damaged.

It's worth noting that some aircraft at the airbase were housed in hangars, but they were of the light type that provided protection only from rain or dust. This forced the Russians to evacuate the aircraft every time drones were detected heading toward the airbase since evidently most of the air defence is on the front line or its proximity, not at airbases located hundreds of kilometres from the battle lines.

The images clearly show one destroyed Su-34, and through a hole in a second hangar on the left, you can see a fragment of the wing characteristic of the Su-34/35. This unit most likely also suffered significant damage, and there's a third hangar with Su-34. Additionally, some other commentators note that up to six aircraft might have been destroyed because other hit hangars had not been vacated.

The attack was even commented on by the Russian military blogger Fighterbomber, who noted that the Russians saved all operational aircraft, but non-operational ones, due to, for example, the lack of spare parts like engines, were hit. This is a serious loss for Russia, which is having problems producing new aircraft, as it is much easier to repair non-operational machines that also serve as spare parts storage for flying aircraft. However, the Ukrainians are effectively preventing the Russians from doing so.

Russian Su-34 tactical bombers play a significant role in the current conflict in Ukraine. They are exceptionally effective in missions to bomb ground targets using guided FAB bombs with UMPK modules. There is simply no field fortification in the world that could survive a direct hit from a 500-kilogram bomb or even a nearby hit from larger ones like the 3,000-kilogram giant FAB-3000.

The Russians aim to drop them on Ukrainian positions detected via "meat assaults,” which in practice, prevents the fortifications from being used for defense. The Su-34 can carry up to 14,000 kilograms of armaments on 12 pylons, and the arsenal includes, among others: S-8 unguided rocket pods, Kh-25 missiles, the aforementioned FAB family of guided bombs, and Raduga Kh-59 missiles with a range of over 200 kilometers. The Su-34 can simultaneously carry six FAB-500 bombs, three FAB-1500 or one FAB-3000.

Moreover, a unique feature of the Su-34 is the pilots' cabin, which is placed in a kind of titanium "bathtub" to ensure protection against bullets from barrel systems like the Gepard or shrapnel from guided anti-aircraft missiles. Additionally, the pilots are seated in a very unusual manner. They don't sit one behind the other but side by side, which improves communication according to the Russians.

Currently, after taking losses during the war in Ukraine into account, Russia theoretically should have about a hundred Su-34 aircraft, but realistically, only half of them might be operational. The Russians are facing major problems producing new aircraft and likely spare parts for the existing fleet of machines.