Ukraine has published satellite images that it says shows the destruction of Russian Shahed drone hangars more than 80 miles from the frontline.
The before and after photos show extensive destruction to buildings at the Yeysk air base in Krasnodar Krai, which is home to a drone training centre and storage facility.
Ukraine said that the strikes destroyed training buildings, command and communication centres and killed personnel who were learning to operate the Iranian-designed unmanned aircraft.
The attack was carried out by the Ukrainian navy in cooperation with the security service, the military said.
The strike likely occurred on the night of June 21, when Russian Telegram channels reported fires resulting from a massive attack in the area.
Shahed drones, also known by the Russian designation Geran-2, have been used by Moscow since September 2022 to “swarm” Ukrainian air defences.
Dubbed ‘suicide’ or ‘kamikaze’ drones because they fly into targets and explode on impact, they are cheap — reportedly costing as little as £15,000 per unit — and are launched in large numbers.
Moscow is reportedly ramping up production of the drones, with the goal of producing 6,000 by summer 2025.
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