Ukraine’s Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for a rare long-range strike against the Savasleyka airbase in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, reportedly damaging at least two aircraft.
The operation, conducted overnight on June 9, 2025, was carried out by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces in coordination with other branches of the country’s Defense Forces.
The Ukrainian military did not disclose details about the operation, although several unconfirmed videos appear to show the use of long-range drones.
More from Savasleyka airfield, ~20 explosions, according to the locals. pic.twitter.com/oVC8V5yYGI
— MAKS 25
(@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) June 9, 2025
“According to preliminary information, two enemy aircraft were hit, likely MiG-31 and Su-30 or Su-34 fighters,” the statement read. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with no immediate confirmation from Russian officials.
As per the statement from Ukraine’s General Staff, the targeted base serves as a launch site for Russian MiG-31K aircraft armed with Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, one of Moscow’s premier standoff weapons used in attacks on Ukrainian territory.
Savasleyka airbase is located near the town of Murom, approximately 400 kilometers east of Moscow and more than 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. On August 14, 2024, the airfield was already subjected to a large UAV attack.
If confirmed, the new strike would mark a further demonstration of Ukraine’s expanding reach against Russian military infrastructure.
Two russian jets were hit
On the night of June 9, Special Operations Forces, in coordination with other elements of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, struck the “Savasleyka” airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region (russia)—@GeneralStaffUA reports.
According to preliminary… pic.twitter.com/9a2uZkqnhH
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 9, 2025
MiG-31K and the Kinzhal: Russia’s long-range threat
The MiG-31 Foxhound, introduced in 1981, is one of the fastest combat aircraft ever built, second only to its predecessor, the MiG-25 Foxbat. Designed as a high-speed interceptor, the MiG-31 boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 46 tons, enabling it to carry a wide range of air-to-air and strike weapons.
Several airframes have since been modified into the MiG-31K variant, repurposed to carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, a hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile. This transformation turned the interceptor into a strike platform capable of engaging targets far beyond the front lines.
The Kinzhal (“Dagger”) missile is believed to reach speeds of Mach 10 to Mach 12 and is based on the ground-launched 9K720 Iskander missile, using a solid-fuel booster stage to achieve atmospheric hypersonic velocities. Weighing approximately 4,300 kilograms (9,500 pounds), the missile is designed to evade modern air defense systems through a combination of speed, altitude, and maneuverability.
While initially developed for the MiG-31K and Russian strategic bombers, the Kinzhal has reportedly also been integrated with other platforms. In September 2023, a Russian defense official told state media TASS that the lighter Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft had successfully carried out its first strike mission using the missile.
Ukraine strikes strategic assets deep into Russian territory
Recent claims indicate a noticeable increase in Ukrainian efforts to target Russian air assets and infrastructure beyond the immediate frontlines.
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed its most ambitious long-range drone strike operation to date, codenamed Operation Spiderweb (Pautyna). This mission involved the deployment of over 100 drones to strike four military airfields across Russia, targeting aircraft located thousands of kilometers away from the front line.
As a result of the operation, several Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, among others, were successfully destroyed.
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