Russian drones hit Ukrainian An-26 80 km from the front line (X @sternenko)
Russia released footage claiming to show a drone attack on a Ukrainian transport plane An-26 parked at an airfield in Mykolaiv, about 80 kilometers from the contact line.
According to Moscow, the attack was carried out by the Rubikon Center unit and allegedly hit the aircraft directly on the airport tarmac while it was stationary.
In addition to this incident, Russian channels claim that another long-range strike was carried out approximately 236 kilometers away, targeting a structure that was said to represent a Mi-24 helicopter. These actions were presented as part of an expanded campaign using kamikaze drones, targeting not only radar systems but also aviation assets positioned far from direct combat zones.
Russian sources attribute the extended range of these operations to improvements in onboard communication systems, including the use of Starlink terminals in drones like the Molniya-2. According to these reports, the attacks are seen as a response to similar Ukrainian operations, suggesting that areas previously considered safe in the rear are now within reach of long-range drones.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @sternenko | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
❗️Russians published footage of FPV drone strikes on an An-26 plane and a vessel in Mykolaiv region, as well as on a helicopter in Poltava region.
From a technical standpoint, the implementation could have been either by delivering drones with LTE modems via agents or by dropping them from an airborne carrier (less likely)… pic.twitter.com/ffxarAKsaK
— Serhii Sternenko ✙ (@sternenko) December 29, 2025
