Air Force
SBU says drones hit Su-35 and Su-34 in Adygea as Kyiv claims 51% of Russian refining disabled
Ukraine’s SBU says drones hit a Su-35, a Su-34 and an ammunition depot in Adygea on October 4, as Kyiv claims over 51% of Russian oil refining capacity disabled.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday, October 4, that its Alpha special operations unit used drones to strike two Russian combat aircraft and an ammunition depot at Khanskaya airfield in Adygea, southern Russia. Separately, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry claimed that long-range strikes had disabled more than 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity. Neither assessment was independently confirmed.
The SBU identified the aircraft as a Su-35 multirole fighter and a Su-34 fighter-bomber. It placed the airfield roughly 500 kilometres from Ukrainian territory. Khanskaya lies a few kilometres outside Maikop, the capital of the Republic of Adygea.
The agency estimated the aircraft’s export values at about $100 million for a Su-35 and $50 million for a Su-34. It said both types carry guided aerial bombs used by Russia against frontline positions and Ukrainian cities.
“The SBU systematically targets Russian military facilities, consistently reducing its ability to wage war against Ukraine,” the service said. Its announcement did not establish an independently verified assessment of the damage.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defences intercepted and destroyed 559 Ukrainian drones between 20:00 on Saturday, October 3, and 08:00 on Sunday, October 4. Moscow named Adygea among the affected regions, alongside occupied Crimea and areas over the Black and Azov seas. The Russian interception tally also remained unverified.
The refineries Ukraine says it struck
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry listed recent strikes on refineries in Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kirishi, Perm, Ilsky, Saratov and Syzran, together with facilities at Ust-Luga.
Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara cited assessments by intelligence services, the ministry and the General Staff. He described the reported damage as a serious setback for Russia’s economy and its ability to sustain aggression and supply military formations.
The ministry’s figure was higher than the 45% reduction in refining capacity claimed by Ukraine’s General Staff on September 21. The two figures are Ukrainian assessments rather than independently established measurements of Russian refinery operations.
The ministry also said Ukraine had tripled production and procurement of long-range strike drones during 2026 and intended to expand further. The drone campaign accompanies new Ukrainian-German cooperation on drone production.
On September 28, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree restricting disclosure of information about Russian refineries and energy exports.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday, October 3, that Ukraine would intensify refinery strikes in response to Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure. On October 4, he said Washington had proposed technical-level trilateral talks with Ukraine and Russia by the end of October. The Kyiv Independent reported that a reciprocal halt to attacks on energy facilities was expected to be discussed at that meeting.
