Ukrainian Strike on Khanskaya Airfield Shows Russia's Rear Is Vulnerable

Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian military airfield "Khanskaya" near Maykop overnight on October 4, causing a fire, according to reports. The strike demonstrates that the enemy cannot feel safe even deep within its own territory, an expert said. Military observer Vadim Kushnikov said the airfield plays a key role for Russian tactical aviation on the southern and southeastern fronts, hosting Su-35 and Su-30 fighters and Su-34 bombers. He noted that many Ukrainian operations have targeted reducing the enemy's air defense potential, and this strike by Security Service operators highlights the importance of such missions. The airfield, located about 500 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory, was previously used by training units and has been targeted before, including in December of last year, when it was used for refueling and launching missile and bomb strikes on Ukraine.