Following reported strikes on Russian military airfields near Saratov, Ryazan, and Kursk, Ukrainian officials suggested the possibility of targeting additional sites inside Russia, including regions as far east as Siberia. The Financial Times referenced an unnamed defense adviser to the Ukrainian authorities in its coverage. The Kursk airfield was reportedly attacked on December 6, while the others were targeted on December 5.
One Ukrainian official stated,
“We face no distance limits and may reach any location on Russian soil, including Siberia.”
The publication asserted that Kyiv has demonstrated the capacity for long-range strikes using domestically produced drones, reducing dependency on Western weapons for those actions.
Observers acknowledge the difficulty of defending against such airstrikes from within Ukraine. An unnamed Ukrainian adviser warned that Russia would soon lose a safe operational space.
According to the adviser, drone attacks are unlikely to determine the outcome of the conflict by themselves, but could influence Moscow’s information and influence operations—a point the West reportedly resists supporting.
The Ukrainian government has not publicly claimed responsibility for the airfield strikes. Citing military analysts, the report suggested that a long-term consequence could be a more dispersed, internally oriented Russian force deployment aimed at protection, which could complicate offensive operations.
According to an unnamed representative from a Western defense ministry, these attacks are likely to undermine Russian confidence and prompt reconsideration of how military equipment is deployed and safeguarded.
Ukraine development
A Ukrainian consultant quoted by the Financial Times noted that the drones used in the strikes were not Ukroboronprom products nor modified Soviet designs. Instead, they were described as a state-private sector collaboration and indicative of Ukraine’s ongoing ability to produce new drones domestically.
Other reporting indicated that the drones resembled updated versions of the Soviet Tu-141 reconnaissance aircraft that were introduced in the 1970s. A Ukrainian engineer involved in UAV development claimed the drones used in the attacks could fly at speeds approaching the speed of sound and carried payloads exceeding 50 kilograms due to a revised camera system squared with the mission requirements.
Analysts noted that such systems could function as inexpensive cruise missiles, with production and resupply timelines a consideration in ongoing strategic planning.
Attack detected in Kiev
Earlier, a senior Ukrainian official confirmed to a major newspaper that Kyiv was responsible for the strikes on Russian airports. The source described the drones as very successful and effective, though without providing operational details.
Past attacks involved Russian airfields in the Ryazan, Saratov, and Kursk regions. Russia’s strategic aviation bases include Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region and Engels in the Saratov region, located roughly 500 and 750 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, respectively.
At the Dyagilevo facility, a fuel tanker explosion reportedly caused fatalities among soldiers. Local officials stated there were no resident evacuations or infrastructure disruptions in nearby areas, and civil facilities remained intact according to statements from regional authorities.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the Ukrainian UAVs were shot down and that the affected aircraft sustained only minor damage from drone wreckage. A fire at an oil reservoir near Kursk followed the attack, and authorities later confirmed the fire was extinguished with no casualties. The region’s yellow threat level remained in effect for a period following the incident. Regional authorities noted multiple prior incidents in border areas including Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk as a result of ongoing tensions.