Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that units of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) destroyed a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber at the military airfield in the city of Engels, Saratov Oblast. According to the president, the aircraft had been used to strike Ukrainian territory. The distance from the attack site to the Ukrainian border is about 800 kilometers.
The SBU specified that the aircraft sustained critical damage — its tail section was completely torn off. The attack apparently occurred on July 16, when local residents reported a fire near the airfield, which also hosts Tu-160 bombers.
Zelensky also claimed strikes on Russian oil industry facilities and targets in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, without providing details. Russian authorities have not yet commented on these statements.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) separately reported successful strikes on 12 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet in the Black and Azov Seas. According to the SBS, nine dry cargo ships, an oil tanker, a gas carrier tanker, and a tugboat were hit. From July 6 to 17, as part of Operation "Milk," a total of 159 Russian vessels were targeted by drones, according to the Ukrainian side. Of these, 117 were disabled in the Azov Sea and 42 in the Black Sea.