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Ukraine Claims Successful Drone Strike on Airfield Inside Russia

August 3, 2024

(AP) – Russian authorities said Saturday that Ukrainian forces targeted several Russian regions in a massive drone attack last night.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that its air defense systems “intercepted and destroyed” a total of 75 drones over areas near or not far from the border with Ukraine, including Belgorod, Krasnodar, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov, Voronezh and the Ryazan region of Russia. One of the drones was also shot down over the Sea of Azov, the statement said.

According to the ministry, 36 drones were destroyed in the skies over Rostov Oblast. However, Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev said in an online statement that the oblast had been hit by a total of 55 drones. He did not say how many of these were intercepted or how many hit their targets, saying only that “warehouse facilities” in the Morozovsk and Kamensky districts were damaged in the attacks.

The Ukrainian General Staff said in a Facebook post on Saturday that its forces had struck an airfield in Morozovsk and hit an munitions depot with guided bombs, as well as fuel depots in the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions.

First F-16s reportedly arrive in Ukraine, but Kiev remains cautious https://t.co/zsEmRv0ABe

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 2, 2024

Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that an oil depot in the region had been attacked, saying one of the tanks exploded, sparking a fire which was quickly put out.

Two drones crashed into a residential high-rise building in the Oryol region, briefly causing a fire, according to Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Kryuchkov. One person sought medical help after the attack, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Saturday that Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 29 Shahed drones and four missiles.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk said in an online statement that the country’s air defenses shot down 24 drones over nine regions of the country. His statement did not make clear whether missiles were also intercepted or what damage the attacks caused.