Massive explosion as kamikaze drone smashes into Russian air base damaging one of Putin’s prized supersonic bombers

ONE of Putin’s prized war planes has been damaged after a kamikaze drone strike deep inside Russian territory. The attack, at the military airport in the Novgorod region more than 700 miles from Ukraine, witnessed a “helicopter style” drone. East2WestSmoke could be seen billowing near the base[/caption] East2WestThe Soltsy airfield is a base for the Tu-22M3 bombers[/caption] The ministry said nobody was hurt and the fire was quickly extinguished. The Russian defence ministry admitted a strike: “The Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack using a copter-type UAV on a military airfield in Novgorod region.” “As a result of the terrorist attack on the territory of the airfield, a fire broke out in the aircraft parking lot, which was promptly eliminated by fire brigades. “One plane was damaged, but there were no casualties as a result of the terrorist attack.” In a separate statement cited by Russian news agencies, the Defence Ministry said a Ukrainian plane-type drone had been shot down over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. The Soltsy air field is known as a base for Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers which have been used to target Ukraine. The Tupolev Tu-22M3 was deployed for the first time by Russia in its war with Ukraine during the “carpet-bombing” of Mariupol. It has an operational range of nearly 7,000km, putting all of Europe and the east coast of the United States within its scope. These Soviet-designed general-purpose air-dropped bombs with a high-explosive warhead are old but devastating in their indiscriminate damage. The Tu22M can also carry Kh-15 nuclear or anti-radar missiles, as well as Kh-22 long-range naval strike missiles. East2WestA Russian TU-22M3 bomber is capable of reaching speeds of 1500 miles per hour[/caption]