Ukrainian fighter jets have struck a base belonging to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Belgorod region, killing intelligence officers, according to a report.

The Telegram channel Soniashnyk, which is affiliated with the Ukrainian Air Force, said the attack was carried out by MiG-29 jets armed with French-developed AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts on X (formerly Twitter) have confirmed the location of the targeted FSB building.

Newsweek has contacted Russian and Ukrainian authorities for comment by email.

Why It Matters

The strike marks a significant escalation in the war, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. While Ukraine has previously targeted military sites on Russian soil—such as ammunition depots, logistics hubs, and airbases—the attack on the Glotovo base appears to be the first known strike on a facility linked to the FSB.

What To Know

The Soniashnyk Telegram channel reported that the FSB base, located in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, was hit with two French-made AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs.

An unverified video shared by the channel captures the moment of the strike. Filmed by a drone, the footage shows a direct hit on the building, followed by a massive plume of smoke billowing into the sky.

“This is what happens when you don’t get the message the first time—the Cossacks have to go and repeat the conversation,” the channel said in a caption accompanying the clip.

“Aviation continues to operate in all directions, MiG-29s destroy enemy forces, including officers of the FSB,” it said.

Ukraine’s military has used AASM bombs extensively in the war to strike Russian military targets, including drone hubs and control centers.

Designed by the French Company Safran Electronics & Defense, the air-to-surface weapons are suitable for both deep-strike attacks and close air support missions.

The strike comes weeks after Kyiv was reported to have captured the village of Demidovka in Belgorod, and after a Ukrainian long-range HIMARS strike destroyed four Russian helicopters in the region.

Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst from Finland-based Black Bird Group, previously told Newsweek that there was no indication Ukraine had made further gains beyond Demidovka in Belgorod. Kyiv’s military was likely a fixing operation, not a landgrab with large goals, he said.

What People Are Saying

The Telegram channel Soniashnyk, which is affiliated with the Ukrainian Air Force, said: “This is what happens when you don’t get the message the first time—the Cossacks have to go and repeat the conversation.”

What Happens Next

Soniashnyk said the Ukrainian Air Force will continue to “operate in all directions” as the war in Ukraine grinds on. Safran Electronics & Defense told Business Insider that it is significantly ramping up production of AASM Hammer bombs this year, but it’s unclear how many will go to Ukraine.