The Daily Populous Sunday May 31st, 2026 day edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by modernbonaparte

Ukrainian drones have destroyed two Russian Tu-142 naval aircraft and an Iskander ballistic missile system, overnight on May 30, Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi reported.

The Iskander and two Tu-142 aircraft were attacked at a military airfield in Taganrog, a port city on the Sea of Azov in Rostov Oblast, Brovdi said.

The strike was achieved by the 1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, a unit that specializes in deep strikes on Russian military targets and oil and gas infrastructure.

The Tu-142 is a long-range marine reconnaissance anti-submarine aircraft operated by the Russian navy, based on Russia's Tu-95 strategic bomber platform, which is often used for mass cruise missile attacks on Ukraine.

The Iskander operational-tactical missile system is a Russian system capable of launching ballistic missiles up to 500 kilometers.

The weapon, which can only be reliably shot down by the advanced U.S.-built Patriot system, has played a key role in attacks against Ukrainain cities and energy infrastructure,

0:00 / 1× Video showing Tu-142 long-range bombers attacked at a military airfield in Russia's Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, overnight on May 30, 2026. (Robert "Magyar" Brovdi / Telegram)

Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slusar reported on Telegram that a fuel tank, an oil tanker, and an administrative building in the port of Taganrog caught fire following a Ukrainian drone strike. Slusar further claimed that two people were injured in the city amid the attack.

Taganrog is a major Russian port city on the Sea of Azov just over 40 kilometers from the state border with the now-occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast.

The city has been frequently targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, with explosions last reported in the area overnight on May 27.

Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced drones to strike targets deep inside Russia.

tomassino on May 31st, 2026 at 09:54 UTC »

Those aircraft are not cheap, and they ended the production in the 90's

macross1984 on May 31st, 2026 at 09:45 UTC »

Any Russian weapons destroyed is pulling the teeth out of Putin's mouth.

Tu-142 is naval version of antique turbo-prop Tu-95 Bear and no longer in production so Russia can't even replace it.

ArgentineBeauty on May 31st, 2026 at 09:41 UTC »

Ukraine keeps finding ways to make very expensive Russian equipment have a very bad day. Keep it up 🇺🇦