Ukraine's Neptune Missiles Destroy 2 Russian Su-34 Bombers in Volgograd Region

Ukraine’s Neptunes successfully destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, used by Moscow to launch unguided and guided aerial bombs (KABs), in Russia’s Volgograd region on Thursday, Oct. 29. The Ukrainian Navy’s Neptune coastal missile system hit the aircraft, which can also carry missiles of various types, at the Marinovka airfield, near the settlement of Oktyabrsky. This was initially reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Several minutes later, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the report, noting that Ukraine had carried out two missile strikes during the day. In one of the strikes, a launcher for Russia’s Iskander ballistic missiles was hit as well. The Su-34, a two-seat long-range strike derivative of the Su-27 fighter, was originally developed in the 1990s, but was only brought into service in 2014. It is described as Russia’s main aircraft launching KABs on Ukrainian cities nationwide, capable of carrying up to 8 tons of munitions, with an estimated value of each jet at about $50 million. Such bombs remain one of Russia’s most destructive weapons against Ukrainian cities near the front line. Earlier on Thursday, three KABs struck an apartment building in Izium, Kharkiv region, injuring at least 13 people. Throughout the day, at least 20 people were killed and 109 wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine nationwide, with several types of weapons used, including ballistic missiles and first-person-view (FPV) drones. Other Topics of Interest 80% of Ukrainians Back Refinery Strikes Despite Risks of US Aid Cut Only 11% support halting strikes on Russian oil refineries in a scenario involving US aid cuts and no reciprocal commitments from Moscow. Second strike on Su-34 in two weeks The Marinovka airfield, located about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Ukraine, has previously been targeted by Ukrainian Defense Forces in 2025 as well, as it hosts a squadron of Su-34s. Overnight Oct. 14-15, Ukraine struck six Russian Su-34 bombers with a Neptune missile strike, at another military airfield in Russia’s Voronezh region. The attack targeted Borisoglebsk airfield and also destroyed equipment used to support flight operations Originally designed to destroy warships, Neptune is a domestically developed Ukrainian Cruise missile. In April 2022, its ground-based system sank Russia’s shadow fleet vessel, the Moskva. Since then, Ukraine has upgraded the missile for strikes on land targets deep inside Russia, with the new version capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away. Zelensky warns of fresh ballistic attacks During the same remarks, Zelensky said Ukraine had obtained intelligence that Russia was preparing fresh ballistic missiles. He called on partners to provide interceptor packages for Patriot air-defense systems, of which Ukraine is facing a critical shortage. “We are waiting for the relevant decisions,” Zelensky said. The appeal follows similar warnings during his visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday, Oct. 28, where he described Patriot missiles as Ukraine’s most critical shortage, urging Washington not to delay deliveries under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) – a mechanism through which allies fund purchases of US-made weapons for Ukraine. Ahead of winter, Russia is increasingly relying on ballistic missiles to target Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including the power grid and water supplies. Meanwhile, Kyiv has reportedly depleted its stocks of Patriot interceptors as early as Oct. 15, due to limited deliveries from allies. For Ukraine the PAC-3 is among the very few weapons capable of deterring Russia’s ballistic missiles. Russian Iskander-M, for example, is a ballistic missile carrying a half-ton warhead that is strong enough to tear down a quarter to half of a typical apartment block. “Another aspect of our anti-ballistic work is the interceptor packages, primarily for Patriots, that partners can provide to us,” Zelensky said on Wednesday. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.