On Thursday, Ukrainian drones attacked a key military air base in Russia’s Lipetsk region, located about 300 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The aggressive maneuver is part of Kiev’s sustained offensive efforts and has caused significant disruption at the site.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported via a Telegram post that the strike targeted the Lipetsk airport, hitting warehouses and various facilities in the vicinity of the airport. This led to multiple ignitions and a substantial fire, along with several explosions. The Lipetsk base is known to host Su-34, Su-35 and MiG-31 aircraft.
After the attack, Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed via Telegram that drone strikes had severely damaged a local power plant, causing widespread power outages and prompting a state of emergency in the area. Artamonov said, “There are currently 9 victims who are being provided with the necessary medical care,” although he did not provide details on the severity of their injuries.
Artamonov also expressed concern about drone strikes against civilian areas in nearby regions, such as Kursk and Belgorod, stressing a position of resilience against such tactics.
Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in Kursk, where missile threats persist and a state of emergency was declared earlier this week following a similar Ukrainian offensive. These actions underscore the largest scale of cross-border operations by Kiev since the conflict escalated in February 2022.
In retaliation, Russian forces continued their offensive, launching a missile at a supermarket in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, causing numerous casualties and injuries, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Ukraine’s ongoing strategic strikes, including the recent attacks on Morozovsk airport in Russia’s Rostov region, aim to disrupt Russian military logistics and supply chains, targeting ammunition depots, oil storage facilities and fuel depots in several regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended these tactics in a statement, affirming the legitimacy of striking Russian airfields to neutralize military threats, highlighting the defensive and retaliatory nature of Ukraine’s military strategy.
The US Pentagon reiterated its support for Ukraine’s defensive measures, with Deputy Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirming that Ukraine’s actions are in line with US policy supporting the country’s right to defend itself from cross-border aggression.
This escalation reflects the growing complexity of the conflict, with both sides engaging in increasingly intense military action across the border.
