The UAV attack on a maintenance facility in Taganrog on March 9 demonstrates that Ukrainian operations can reach strategically important targets on Russian territory, even if they are considered protected, British intelligence officials say.

"On March 9, 2024, an uncrewed aerial vehicle attack launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck areas across Beriev Tankt maintenance facility in Taganrog, Rostov region, Russia. The Taganrog site is used to produce, upgrade, maintain and repair the Russian Air Force's A-50 MAINSTAY Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft," the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said in a report published on X social media on Tuesday.

It is indicated that this facility in Taganrog also has broader strategic importance for Russia, since it serves long-range strategic bombers, transport aircraft and is a test centre for the A-100 aircraft.

In addition, its importance for the Russians is evidenced by the constant presence of active air defense systems located around the facility.

British intelligence believes that Russia's loss of the A-50 aircraft is likely to significantly degrade situational awareness.

Images circulating online of damage from the attack show damage to two large buildings associated with the A-50 fleet, which were likely used to shelter the aircraft during periods of deep maintenance.

However, two weeks after the loss of the second aircraft, the A-50 fleet remains grounded for operations in Ukraine.

"This attack demonstrates that Ukrainian operations can still reach strategically significant targets within Russia, even when such sites are thought to be protected, whether in the air or on the land," the intelligence agency said.