'Massive' drone attack targets military airfield 330km inside Russia
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A large-scale drone attack targets a military airfield in the Lipetsk region, which neighbors Kursk, an area that has recently been subject to a cross-border offensive by Ukraine.
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In this handout photo released by the administration of the Kursk region of Russia on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, smoke rises from the area of Kursk airport outside Kursk, Russia. (AP)
Russian authorities ordered the evacuation of the vicinity of the Lipetsk region, located hundreds of kilometers away from the Ukrainian border, after a reportedly "massive" drone attack caused a fire at a Russian military airfield.
Massive explosions coming from the Lipetsk air base after UAVs struck the area.
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) August 9, 2024
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, residents of 4 settlements located near the airfield are being evacuated. Public transport in the city is not running.
Source: Astra pic.twitter.com/XiuwlRzroN
The attack came after Ukrainian forces pressed a new cross-border offensive in Kursk, an area neighboring Lipetsk, in what seems to be the most consequential attack on Russian territories since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022.
Russian state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti reported that the regional emergencies ministry directory announced the fire but did not disclose the cause.
However, the reports of the fire came a few hours after regional governor Igor Artamonov announced on the official Telegram channel that a massive UAV attack had targeted Lipetsk at around 3:00 am.
He then reported explosions "far from civilian buildings" and damage to a local power facility, urging residents to dismiss calls for evacuation from Lipetsk, saying that they were "spread by the enemy to sow panic." However, he then announced a state of emergency less than an hour later.
"To eliminate the consequences of the detonation of explosive objects, a state of emergency is introduced in Lipetsk municipal district," he stated at around 4:00 am, listing evacuation orders for four settlements, with temporary accommodation points and transportation being prepared, on the outskirts of Lipetsk city.
The drone attack reportedly wounded six people, according to preliminary estimations.
Air defenses in the area were still operating as of 6:00 am local time.
Russia repels more attacks on Kursk
Lipetsk is located 330 kilometers deep into Russian territory and neighbors Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale cross-border offensive just days ago.
On Thursday, Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted two Ukrainian drones over the Kursk and Oryol regions, between 04:20 and 06:20 local time, thwarting attempts by the Ukrainian forces to carry out attacks using aircraft-type UAVs on Russian territory, Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed.
Additionally, acting Kursk Region Governor Alexei Smirnov announced on Telegram that air defense forces shot down seven Ukrainian missiles over the Kursk Region.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that up to 300 Ukrainian fighters, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles, attacked Russian state border protection units in the region. The incursion has prompted the evacuation of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border.
Latest reports show that almost 1,000 Ukrainian troops and over two dozen armored vehicles and tanks are involved in the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of launching a large-scale provocation, pointing out that Ukrainian troops were indiscriminately shelling Russian regions, targeting civilian infrastructure and ambulances.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova labeled Ukraine's shelling of the Kursk Region as another "terrorist attack" aimed at civilians.
