Ukraine struck Russian airbases and military facilities on Friday, just hours before Russia’s massive aerial attack on Kyiv.
Ukraine reported striking Russia’s strategic Engels airfield, home to strategic bombers in Russia’s Saratov region. Located 600 kilometers from Ukraine's front lines, Engels air base hosts Russia's Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers that are used in Russia’s frequent long-range strikes on Ukraine. The attack was followed by explosions and fire. The General Staff of Ukraine said at least three fuel tanks were hit in the area, causing strong fire. Saratov Governor Roman Busargin acknowledged fire at an "industrial enterprise" without specifying the details, and reported damage from drones to a residential building. Busargin said there were no casualties.
Another attack was launched on Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan region where a Ukrainian drone hit Progress defense plant, that is a key enterprise in Russia’s military-industrial complex. “This is where Russia gets the components that power its missile and artillery systems,” Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said.
Ukraine also claimed to have struck a logistics center tied to the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of Russia's 72nd Division near Kulbaki in Kursk Oblast. In yet another operation, Ukrainian drones destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged an Mi-35 helicopter in Russia’s Bryansk region.
The attacks came hours after Russia launched 400 drones and more than 40 cruise ballistic missiles on Kyiv, killing and injuring dozens of people in response to Ukraine’s audacious Spiderweb operation that destroyed Russian bombers last week.
