Ukraine has hit Russia with massive kamikaze drone and missile strikes across at least nine regions overnight as its forces inside Vladimir Putin’s territory continued to advance.
At least two airfields were targeted including Savasleyka military base in the Nizhny Novgorod, home to lethal hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and MiG-31K aircraft used to bomb Ukraine.
An aircraft-type drone was seen in the sky ahead of the strike with a total of ten “arrivals” reported. A video from ASTRA media outlet suggests that there was a direct hit.
Footage also showed thundering explosions and fire around Borisoglebsk airbase in Voronezh region, home to the 160th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Kursk city – capital of the region where Ukraine’s troops are staging a counteroffensive – was targeted by missiles which Moscow said had been downed.
Kyiv now claims to control 74 settlements in the region, and more territory than Russia had gained in Ukraine all year in its 2024 offensive.
This represents a huge humiliation for the Kremlin dictator, and President Joe Biden said: “It’s creating a real dilemma for Putin.”
Governor Alexei Smirnov admitted today: “Our air defence is repelling attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Four Ukrainian missiles have been shot down.”
There were claims that the town of Kurchatov – home to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant – was attacked by drone but with no detail.
This comes as one Russian military channel said Ukrainian forces on the ground were still seeking to reach the strategic atomic station.
Rybar reported: “In the border area of Kursk region, Ukrainian troops continue their attempts to advance northward toward Kurchatov.”
Neighbouring border region Belgorod was targeted overnight too, and governor Vyachelsav Gladkov imposed a state of emergency on his territory which is also seen as vulnerable to Ukrainian incursions.
“The situation in the Belgorod region continues to be extremely difficult and tense,” he said.
Russian air defences were active in downing dozens of drones and the extent of Ukrainian hits in the huge strikes was awaiting assessment.
The Russian defence ministry say they shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles and 117 kamikaze drones over multiple Russian regions.
The strikes amounted to one of the heaviest of the entire war.
Some 35 drones were aimed at the region of Voronezh. Reports said one shot down drone had hit a farm triggering a huge blaze. Some reports said the Baltimore airfield was targeted as well as Borisoglebsk.
Roads around Savasleyka military base in Nizhny Novgorod region were blocked after the strikes.
Ukrainian drones were also shot down over the Bryansk, Oryol, Rostov Lipetsk and Volgograd regions in the heavy bombardment, according to reports.