Ukraine Says Neptune Strike Destroyed Two Russian Su-34s at Volgograd Airfield in Possible Record-Range Hit
Ukraine’s Navy says a Neptune-D cruise missile strike on Russia’s Marinovka airfield in Volgograd region destroyed two Su-34 fighter-bombers of the 11th Composite Aviation Regiment, in what may be the missile’s longest known combat use, while President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed two Su-34s and an Iskander launcher were hit.
Ukraine is stepping up long-range attacks inside Russia, and its navy now claims a landmark strike: a Neptune-D cruise missile hit on Marinovka airfield in Volgograd region that destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers.
According to Ukraine’s Navy, the strike targeted the Marinovka base, where Su-34s from the 11th Composite Aviation Regiment of Russia’s 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army are stationed. The navy says a Neptune missile attack destroyed two of the jets on the ground.
Analysts following the conflict note that Ukraine’s strike on Marinovka may represent the longest known combat use of the Neptune-D cruise missile so far. From a likely launch area on Ukrainian-controlled territory to the airfield in Volgograd region, the missile would have had to fly deep into Russian airspace through layers of air defense.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the operation in his evening speech on October 29. Without naming the specific weapon, he said Ukrainian forces carried out two missile strikes, destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and struck an Iskander launcher. He thanked the units involved for the result.
Russian authorities have not confirmed the losses. Open-source analysts will be looking for satellite imagery of Marinovka and changes in Russian air operations to assess the extent of the damage.
The reported use of Neptune-D at this distance points to growing Ukrainian confidence in its domestically developed long-range weapons. The missile was originally known for its anti-ship role but has since been adapted for land-attack missions, according to Ukrainian officials in earlier statements about the program. Reaching targets in Volgograd region would mean Russian airfields once seen as relatively safe rear bases are now within reach of Ukrainian planners.
For Russia, the claimed loss of two Su-34s on the ground and an Iskander launcher is significant if confirmed. Su-34s play a central role in Russia’s bombing campaign over Ukraine, and Iskander systems are among the main platforms used for high-value missile strikes. Hits on these assets far from the front signal that storing aircraft and launchers at distance no longer guarantees protection from Ukrainian attacks.
For Ukraine, the strike fits into a broader effort to degrade Russia’s capacity to carry out missile and air attacks on Ukrainian cities by targeting jets and launchers where they are based. Each successful deep hit also carries a psychological effect, showing both domestic and foreign audiences that Ukrainian forces can reach important military infrastructure well inside Russia.
Key developments to watch include independent imagery of Marinovka, any visible relocation of Russia’s Su-34 units, and further reported uses of Neptune-D that would show whether this was a single demonstration or the start of a regular deep-strike pattern.
Sources
- OSINT