Ukraine has reportedly carried out a major drone attack on an airbase located in Russia's Rostov region, resulting in the destruction of Russian fighter jets and casualties among Russian servicemen. According to a Ukrainian source familiar with the operation, the Security Service of Ukraine and Ukrainian military orchestrated the strikes on the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, with the aim of diminishing Russian military capabilities.
The targeted airfield was identified as a base for aircraft that were allegedly used to launch guided air bombs on Ukrainian positions and border settlements. The attack reportedly destroyed at least six Russian fighter jets and impacted around 20 Russian personnel, resulting in casualties and injuries.
While CNN has not been able to independently verify these claims, if confirmed, these strikes would mark the most significant damage inflicted on an airfield inside Russia since the conflict began in February 2022.
Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev confirmed an attack involving over 40 drones in the Morozovsky district of the region, causing minor damage to an electrical substation. However, he stated that no individuals were harmed during the incident.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the interception and destruction of at least 53 Ukrainian drones across various territories, with air defense systems successfully intercepting drones over multiple regions, including Rostov, Krasnodar, Saratov, Kursk, and Belgorod.
Additional attacks were reported in the city of Engels near Saratov, where a strategic aviation base of the Russian Armed Forces is located. Despite the interception of a drone, no casualties or damage were reported in this instance.
Furthermore, the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border experienced attacks that resulted in damage to electricity and gas supply lines, as confirmed by the regional governor.
This recent drone attack is part of Ukraine's strategy to conduct targeted strikes across the border, potentially aiming to erode domestic Russian support for the war and degrade Russian infrastructure. The region of Rostov, which shares a border with Ukraine in Russia's south, has previously been targeted by Kyiv's strategic aerial strikes, indicating an escalation in cross-border military actions.
