Ukraine Hit Helicopters, Oil Refinery, and Military Plant in Russia
In a continued display of its growing reach and tactical precision, Ukraine launched a series of overnight drone strikes across Russia. A Mi‑8 helicopter was completely destroyed and a Mi‑35 attack gunship was heavily damaged at an airfield in the Bryansk region. A fire was also ignited at “Progress” electronic factory deep inside the Tambov region.
In Saratov region, a drone strike caused a massive fire at an oil depot that supplies the Engels-2 military airbase — one of Russia’s key strategic bomber hubs.
Additionally, reports from Telegram channels indicate that the Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan region was also targeted. Ukrainian general staff confirmed the information about strikes.
Bryansk: Mi-8 and Mi-35 helicopters
Ukrainian drones struck the Bryansk airport just before dawn, leaving a Mi‑8 transport helicopter completely destroyed and a Mi‑35 attack gunship heavily damaged, according to Russian media.
Satellite footage and on‑the‑ground videos confirmed the damage to aviation assets. Emergency responders were seen battling flames at the airfield before dawn. Local videos showed secondary explosions and flames raging through the airfield, prompting evacuations of nearby warehouse staff.
The strike is part of an increasingly regular pattern of attacks on Russian aviation infrastructure, targeting not only operational aircraft but also the broader logistical and industrial systems that support Russia’s war effort.
Ukraine is systematically dismantling Russia’s aviation and missile infrastructure—from frontline aircraft and support systems to the factories that build them.
Oil Refinery in Saratov region
Ukrainian forces carried out a precision drone strike targeting a strategic oil refinery in Saratov Oblast, deep inside Russian territory. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed that drones from its Unmanned Systems Forces, Military Intelligence, and Special Operations units struck the facility, igniting a significant fire at the Rosneft-run plant, a key node in Moscow’s military fuel supply chain .
Progress Plant in Michurinsk
Around 2:15 a.m., Ukrainian drones targeted the Progress Machine-Building Plant in Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast, reportedly caught fire, with Russian authorities confirming the incident and reporting at least three injuries. Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko stated:
“The Progress plant in Michurinsk was hit — it’s one of the key elements of Russia’s military‑industrial complex. This is where Russia sources the components that power its missile and artillery systems.”
Progress factory builds high-tech control systems for aircraft, helicopters, and rockets — plus electrical gear for pipelines. Its systems guide missiles and steer jets. Reports say Moscow plans to produce 2 million FPV drones this year alone, plus 30,000 long-range and decoy drones — all aimed at the war in Ukraine.
Russians wrote in local telegram channels:
“The Progress plant was hit, likely by a single drone… the central workshop was struck, causing the roof to collapse.”
A Sequence of Strategic Strikes this Week:
• June 1 – “Spiderweb” Operation:
Ukraine launched its largest drone raid yet—117 FPV drones striking five key air bases across Russia’s northern and central regions, including Murmansk, Ryazan, and Irkutsk. Kyiv’s Security Service claimed the raid disabled over one-third of Russia’s cruise missile fleet, including Tu‑95 and Tu‑22M3 bombers and an A‑50 early-warning aircraft.
• June 5 – Iskander Launchers Targeted
On June 5, Ukrainian forces also struck a group of Iskander missile launchers near the city of Klintsy in the Bryansk region. One launcher was reportedly destroyed, and two others severely damaged. The Iskander systems were believed to be preparing for strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Weakening Russia’s War Machine
- Aviation under siege: From multiple bombers and helicopters grounded or destroyed, Ukrainian forces are chipping away at Russian aerial firepower.
- Industrial disruption: Factories across Russia are now legitimate targets—cutting supply chains and sowing uncertainty.
- Psychological warfare: Bold strikes hundreds of kilometers inside Russia send a message: no place is beyond Kyiv’s reach.
Ukraine’s recent drone and missile campaign is methodical and escalating. Ukraine is not merely defending—it’s dismantling Russia’s ability to prosecute war. These strikes puncture the perception of Russian dominance and reshape the battlefield dynamic.
