What happened

A drone strike hit Soltsy airbase in Russia's Novgorod Oblast on 19 August 2023, damaging Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bombers capable of carrying anti-ship missiles used against Ukrainian cities. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed only one aircraft was damaged, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing geolocated satellite imagery showing thick smoke and Russian insider sources, assessed that at least two aircraft were damaged, disputing the official account. ISW reported that Russian forces subsequently relocated the base's remaining, undamaged bombers to Olenya airbase in the Murmansk region as a precaution. No casualty figures were reported. This record introduces this earlier Russian strategic-bomber-base strike to the site's airbase/airport-strike coverage, added following the extension of the backfill window to three years.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.