Humiliated Putin loses warplanes worth £148,000,000 despite stepping up security
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Vladimir Putin has lost four warplanes worth £37 million each despite stepping up their defences after Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb.
A pair of Su-34 fighters were destroyed and two more damaged after an attack on on Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd.
Ukraine used long range drones to fly more than 200 miles to inflict the latest £148 million blow to Putin's aerial firepower.
It came less than a month after Russia supposedly tightened its military air base security after 40-plus strategic bombers and spy planes were hit in Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb.
Russia responded by hitting Ukrainian civilians with a strike on a 21-storey residential block in Odesa, killing a married couple and leaving at least 14 others wounded including children aged three and seven.
Furious Russian military analysts confirmed the damage to the Su-34 multi-role fighters used on the frontline for bombing missions against Ukraine, including dropping guided aerial bombs.
The latest attack was admitted by pro-war Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber which raged that the hit 'could and should have been prevented'.
'There is no point in commenting on Marinovka….and it would be nice if not only the [Ukrainians] were held accountable….otherwise, it will continue like this.'
The channel expressed fury at the 'multi-billion dollar' losses Putin's forces are suffering.
Ukraine's SBU security service said: 'The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and the SBU used long-range drones to attack Russian fighter jets.
'The attack also caused a fire in the technical and operational part of the enemy airfield, which is a critical infrastructure for a military facility.
'This is where the enemy prepares aircraft for flights, carries out their routine maintenance and repair work.'
Ukraine staged the successful strike despite Russia reportedly boosting security around its key air bases.
The Su-34s are the backbone of Russia's tactical strike aviation.
In Operation Spiderweb drones were launched from trucks positioned close to at least four Russian airfields.
In Odessa, fire swept through a residential building after the Russia strike. More Trending
The bodies of a married couple – sleeping when Putin's forces struck – were pulled from the rubble.
At least 14 were wounded in the strike, with dozens evacuated.
Putin has repeatedly targeted civilians in a sign that he has no intention of seeking peace and intends to carry on with his bid to invade and subjugate Ukraine.
'A couple was killed – their bodies were pulled from the rubble of a damaged apartment building,' said Ukraine's national police.
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