Ukraine Strikes Russian Air Base Amid Intensified Drone Warfare
Escalation of Conflict in Ukraine
London: On Saturday, Ukraine announced it had targeted a Russian air base, while Russia retaliated with a barrage of drone strikes across Ukraine, continuing its aggressive bombing campaign that has thwarted hopes for a resolution to the ongoing conflict that has persisted for over three years.
According to Ukraine's military General Staff, the strike was aimed at the Borisoglebsk air base located in Russia's Voronezh region, which serves as the base for Russia's Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM fighter jets.
The General Staff reported on Facebook that the attack successfully hit a storage facility containing glide bombs, a training aircraft, and potentially other aircraft.
There was no immediate response from Russian officials regarding the assault.
These operations against Russian air bases are intended to undermine Russia's military strength and showcase Ukraine's ability to strike significant targets within Russian territory. Last month, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft at various airfields deep within Russia during a surprise drone operation.
In a significant escalation, Russia launched 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight, with Ukraine's air force confirming that 157 were intercepted and 135 were likely lost due to electronic jamming.
The Khmelnytskyi region in western Ukraine was primarily targeted during this attack. Regional Governor Serhii Tyurin reported that there were no damages, injuries, or fatalities.
Russia has been intensifying its long-range assaults on Ukraine, with waves of drones and missiles striking Kyiv in the largest aerial offensive since the onset of the invasion. Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the death toll from the recent attacks had risen to two, with 31 others injured.
This surge in attacks followed a 'very important and productive' phone conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, where they discussed enhancing Ukraine's air defenses, potential joint arms production, and broader US-led initiatives to resolve the conflict.
When asked about the call, Trump remarked, 'We had a very good call, I think.' However, he expressed uncertainty about the prospects for ending the fighting.
The US has temporarily halted some military aid shipments to Ukraine, including vital air defense missiles, prompting Ukraine's European allies to consider how they can assist. Zelenskyy mentioned plans to bolster Ukraine's domestic arms production, although scaling up will require time.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 94 Ukrainian drones overnight and an additional 45 on Saturday morning and early afternoon. While no casualties were reported, local officials in the Saratov region indicated that 25 apartments were damaged by Ukrainian drones in Engels.
Additionally, four Ukrainian drones were intercepted while approaching Moscow on Saturday, leading to a brief suspension of air traffic at Sheremetyevo Airport as a precaution, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.