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On Thursday, Ukrainian drones attacked a crucial military airbase in Russia’s Lipetsk region, located approximately 300 kilometers from the Ukraine border. This aggressive maneuver is part of Kiev’s sustained offensive efforts and has resulted in significant disruptions at the site.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported via a Telegram post that the strike targeted Lipetsk airport, impacting storage facilities and various structures within the airport vicinity. This led to multiple ignitions and a substantial fire, coupled with several explosions. The Lipetsk base is known to house Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 aircraft.
Following the attack, Lipetsk’s Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed through Telegram that the drone strikes severely damaged a local power station, causing widespread power outages and prompting a state of emergency in the area. Artamonov disclosed, “Currently, there are 9 casualties who are being provided with necessary medical treatment,” though he did not elaborate on the severity of their injuries.
Artamonov also expressed concern over drone attacks targeting civilian areas in nearby regions such as Kursk and Belgorod, emphasizing a stance of resilience against such tactics.
Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in Kursk, where ongoing missile threats persist and a state of emergency was declared earlier in the week, following a similar Ukrainian offensive. These actions underscore the largest scale of cross-border operations by Kiev since the conflict’s escalation in February 2022.
In retaliation, Russian forces continued their offensive, launching a missile at a supermarket in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, which resulted in significant casualties and injuries, according to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
The continuous strategic strikes by Ukraine, including recent attacks on the Morozovsk airport in Russia’s Rostov region, aim to disrupt Russian military logistics and supply chains, targeting ammunition depots, oil depots, and fuel storage across several regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended these tactics in a statement, asserting the legitimacy of targeting Russian airfields to neutralize military threats, highlighting the ongoing defensive and retaliatory nature of Ukraine’s military strategy.
The U.S. Pentagon reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s defensive measures, with Deputy Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirming that the actions taken by Ukraine align with U.S. policy that supports the country’s right to defend itself from cross-border aggressions.
This escalation reflects the deepening complexities of the conflict, with both sides engaging in intensified military actions across the border.
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