Russian officials have accused Ukraine of launching what seems to be the most extensive nighttime drone attack on Russian soil since the conflict began 18 months ago.
Simultaneously, Moscow’s forces unleashed a massive strike on Kyiv during the night, resulting in two casualties, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The drone strikes targeted an airport in Russia’s Pskov region, near the Estonian and Latvian borders. These attacks caused significant damage to four Il-76 transport aircraft, capable of carrying heavy machinery, as reported by Russian state news agency Tass. The airport strike initiated a massive fire, as per local reports, with unconfirmed sources suggesting up to 20 drones may have been involved.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that additional drones were intercepted over the Oryol, Bryansk, Ryazan, and Kaluga regions, as well as around Moscow. Consequently, three major airports in the Moscow region, including Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Domodedovo, temporarily suspended incoming and outgoing flights.
Surging Air Attacks from Ukraine
Ukraine has witnessed a surge in aerial attacks on Russian soil recently, coinciding with its counteroffensive to expel invading forces from its territory. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian military assets situated beyond the front lines in the country’s east and south. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of deploying drones towards Moscow.
In retaliation, Russia launched Shahed exploding drones and missiles in a significant bombardment of Kyiv, leading to two fatalities and one injury, reported Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, via Telegram. The attack involved multiple directions and missiles from Tu-95MS strategic aircraft. Popko referred to it as the largest attack on the capital since spring.
Kyiv Sees Overnight Destruction
Residents of Kyiv shared scenes of destruction, including debris scattered across streets and shattered windows in nearby buildings. Fires erupted in garages, with the extent of damage still unknown due to limited access granted by authorities.
In Russia’s Pskov region, all flights to and from the regional capital’s airport were canceled for the day to assess the damage during daylight. Social media images showed smoke rising over the city and a substantial blaze. Fortunately, Governor Mikhail Vedernikov reported no casualties, and the fire was under control.
While Pskov was the hardest-hit region, Kaluga experienced one drone interception, and another drone struck an empty oil reservoir, leading to a quickly extinguished fire, reported Governor Vladislav Shapsha.
Shattered residential windows were also reported, while over the Oryol region, Governor Andrei Klychkov reported two drones downed, with two more drones in the Ryazan region and one in the Moscow region, according to officials. The Oryol and Kaluga regions share borders with Bryansk, while the Moscow region is situated on top of Kaluga. Notably, Pskov, located about 700 kilometers north of Russia’s border with Ukraine, was an unexpected target.
Ukraine’s Air Defense Success
Additionally, Russia-annexed Crimea reported repelling a drone attack on the harbor of Sevastopol, with officials attributing similar attacks to Kyiv in the past. As of now, Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for these attacks on Russian territory.
In response to the nighttime attacks, Ukraine’s air defenses reported intercepting 28 cruise missiles and 15 of 16 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones across multiple regions. In total, 43 enemy weapons were downed in various areas, including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Odessa, and Mykolaiv, as per the Ukrainian air force’s daily Telegram update.
Is The Counter-offensive Working?
Ukraine’s counter-offensive, launched in June to expel Russian forces from captured territories in the east and south, has faced challenges. Reports suggest the extent of reclaimed land has been relatively small.
Meanwhile, experts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note that recent advances near Robotyne and Urozhaine are “likely tactically significant because of the structure of Russian defensive lines.”
Both sides have accused each other of conducting drone attacks, with Ukraine’s most recent strike targeting a skyscraper under construction in Moscow on August 23.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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