Tu-134 aircraft.Photo: tva.ua
On the night of 13 October 2024, a massive fire broke out at the Orenburg-2 military airfield in Russia, destroying a Tu-134 aircraft. The aircraft belonged to the 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces and, according to Ukrainian intelligence, was used to transport senior officials of the Ministry of Defence.
The Tu-134, a Soviet-era transport aircraft, was frequently used to transport the leadership of the Russian armed forces. The fire completely destroyed the plane, and according to preliminary information, no one was on board at the time of the incident.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stressed that Russia’s aggression will not go unanswered. “Every crime against the Ukrainian people will receive its due retribution,” the intelligence agency said.
This incident once again demonstrates the vulnerability of Russian military facilities and confirms that even strategic assets cannot be safe in times of war.
