The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has confirmed that a Russian Tupolev Tu-134 military transport aircraft has been destroyed deep within enemy territory.
The secretive spy agency announced on October 14, 2024, that the Russian Tupolev Tu-134 was destroyed in a fire as punishment for crimes inflicted against the Ukrainian people.
Footage of the twin-engine, narrowbody aircraft ablaze at Orenburg-2 airfield was shared across the Ukrainian spy agency’s social media channel.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the aircraft, which is part of the 117th military transport aviation regiment, was destroyed during the night between October 12 and October 13, 2024.
Describing the burnt-out aircraft as the “enemy’s carcass” the Ukrainian agency said that the Tu-143 was mainly used to transport senior staff from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The GUR said in a statement: “A devastating fire broke out at the Russian military airfield “Orenburg-2”, where the Tu-134 was based. The GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminds that every crime against the Ukrainian people will be duly repaid. Glory to Ukraine!”
The Orenburg-2 airfield is located over 1,000km from Ukraine and around 100km north of the border between Russia and Kazakhstan.
On October 12, 2024, Ukraine also struck a fuel depot in the temporarily occupied city of Rovenki, Luhansk Region.
As with the attack on the Tu-134, the oil depot was targeted at night in a covert attack.