CaliToday (26/11/2025): In a strike that blends modern warfare with Cold War sci-fi, Ukraine has reportedly destroyed one of Russia’s most secretive aerial assets the A-60 laser-equipped aircraft casting a shadow over ongoing peace negotiations.
The A-60 laser plane was based at the Taganrog complex for around 20 years
Overnight, a coordinated Ukrainian assault rocked the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in the Rostov region. Amidst the inferno of burning warehouses and industrial structures, footage has emerged showing the wreckage of the Beriev A-60, a classified experimental aircraft designed to mount a megawatt-class laser weapon.
This strike represents a significant symbolic and technological blow to the Kremlin, targeting a program that has been shrouded in mystery since the Soviet era.
1. The "Soviet Star Wars" Relic
The A-60 is not a standard combat jet; it is a flying laboratory. Only two prototypes were ever built, making this a loss of an irreplaceable asset.
Based on the heavy-lift Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft, the A-60 was Russia’s answer to the US airborne laser programs. It was designed to carry a massive laser cannon intended to blind enemy satellites or destroy incoming missiles.
Key Technical Specifications of the A-60:
The Weapon: A retractable laser turret housed in the rear of the fuselage.
The Power Source: Two massive 2.1-megawatt generators mounted near the landing gear to power the directed-energy weapon.
The Capability: Designed to deliver a 50-second firing sequence at a range of roughly 25 miles.
History: It had been stationed at Taganrog for nearly 20 years, reportedly conducting successful tests against stratospheric balloons and target drones.
Analysis: "While the A-60 likely never entered full operational service, its destruction signifies Ukraine's ability to penetrate deep into Russia's most sensitive military-industrial zones. This was a targeted hit on Russia's future warfare capabilities."
2. A Multi-Pronged Assault on Logistics
The strike on Taganrog was part of a broader, sophisticated campaign by Kyiv. The Beriev complex is a critical hub, also responsible for producing the A-50 spy planes and amphibious aircraft.
Local reports indicate the damage extended beyond the laser plane:
Strategic Bombers: A hangar used to upgrade bombers for carrying Kh-101 cruise missiles the very missiles used to strike Ukrainian cities was set ablaze.
Air Defense: Strikes likely targeted a unit housing the advanced S-400 air defense system, exposing gaps in Russia’s domestic shield.
Energy War: Simultaneously, Ukrainian Neptune missiles and UAVs struck the Tuapse oil refinery and the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, a crucial Black Sea export hub.
3. The Empire Strikes Back: Grid Under Fire
In a brutal retaliation, Russia launched a "massive combined attack" targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Shahed drones and hypersonic Kinzhal ballistic missiles rained down on Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv.
Humanitarian Cost: 40,000 people in the Kyiv region were left without power.
Civilian Toll: Six people were killed and 14 injured in the capital alone, with multi-story residential buildings sustaining heavy damage.
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| Russian overnight strikes on Kyiv have killed six and injured 14 - Efrem Lukatsky/The Associated Press |
NATO on Alert The escalation spilled over borders. Russian drones reportedly violated the airspace of Moldova and Romania. In response, Romania, a NATO member, scrambled two Eurofighters and two F-16 jets—a stark reminder of how easily this conflict could widen.
4. Diplomacy in the Shadow of War
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this escalation is its timing. While missiles flew, delegations from the US and Russia were meeting in Abu Dhabi.
These high-stakes talks, involving Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev, are attempting to finalize a 28-point settlement plan.
The intensification of attacks by both sides suggests a "fight and talk" strategy: both Kyiv and Moscow are trying to maximize their leverage and secure the strongest possible position on the battlefield before any ceasefire freezes the front lines.