Taganrog, Russia — November 29, 2025 (Agencies) — Ukraine’s latest long-range strike on Russian military infrastructure has destroyed a unique A-60 laser testbed aircraft and damaged additional assets at the Beriev Aircraft Company’s facility in Taganrog, according to satellite imagery and local reports.
The overnight attack targeted the Taganrog/Tsentralnyy airfield in the Rostov region, a site previously struck by Ukrainian forces. Videos posted to social media showed a large blaze and at least one burning aircraft, later identified as the A-60 — a one-off experimental platform based on the Il-76MD transport and fitted with a carbon dioxide laser system. Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of the A-60 and another testbed aircraft, believed to be linked to Russia’s A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said the strike employed both Bars jet-powered long-range attack drones and Neptune cruise missiles, reflecting Kyiv’s growing ability to hit high-value Russian military assets deep inside their territory. The Neptune, originally designed as an anti-ship missile, has been adapted for land-attack roles, while the Bars represents a new class of Ukrainian munitions blurring the line between drones and cruise missiles.
Russian Telegram channels, including Astra and Fighterbomber, reported that drone strikes caused fires at the facility, corroborating eyewitness accounts. Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar confirmed attacks in the region, noting damage to homes, a warehouse, and a gas pipeline. He said three people were killed and eight injured.
The Beriev facility is a critical site for Russia’s aerospace programs, responsible for special-purpose aircraft conversions such as the A-50 and A-100 AEW&C platforms, as well as maintenance of Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft. Its role makes it a prime target for Ukrainian strikes.
The A-60 program, dating back to the Soviet era in the 1970s, was originally designed to counter high-altitude balloons using a laser housed in the cargo bay. The aircraft’s distinctive hump contained a mirror system to direct the beam, while its radar and targeting systems could track aerial targets up to 44 miles away. The destruction of the A-60 marks the loss of a rare and historic experimental platform.
This strike was part of a broader series of Ukrainian attacks across Krasnodar Krai and the Rostov region, underscoring Kyiv’s expanding long-range strike capabilities and its focus on degrading Russia’s high-value military assets.