Russia suffered a huge setback as Ukraine launched a series of “coordinated strikes” on what is considered to be a pivotal launchpad for glide bomb attacks.
Moscow has deployed the bombs since early 2023, delivering huge blows to Kyiv’s defence forces.
But now the Ukrainian military claimed it has “significantly reduced” Russia‘s ability to use the bombs against its positions thanks to a strike on Kushchyovskaya airbase.
An anonymous source told Sky News that the strike would “seriously impact” the ability of Russian soldiers to advance towards the town of Chasiv Yar.
The insider said: “The degradation of this airfield and the capability it holds will mean that Russia‘s ability to bomb Ukrainian troops on the front line is significantly reduced.”
Kushchyovskaya is located in Krasnodar Krai in southern Russia.
The source said the attacks, which could not be independently verified, targeted Russian aircraft based at the airfield – including the SU-34 and SU-35 which can be fitted to launch glide bomb technology.
They added: “This airbase and others are used to launch between 100-150 sorties per day, of which a significant number are launching munitions along the frontline positions concentrated around Chasiv Yar.
“These glide bombs were vital in the seizure of Avdiivka and are currently being used heavily in Chasiv Yar.
“They allow the Russian aircraft to release their bombs further away from the target so they are at less risk from Ukrainian air defence.”
Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv area late earlier this month, significantly adding to the pressure on Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces which are waiting for delayed deliveries of crucial weapons and ammunition from Western partners.
Russia has also been testing defenses at other points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line snaking from north to south through eastern Ukraine.
That line has barely changed over the past 18 months in what became a war of attrition.
Recent Russian attacks have come in the eastern Donetsk region, as well as the Chernihiv and Sumy regions in the north and in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
The apparent aim is to stretch depleted Ukrainian resources and exploit weaknesses.