Drone Attack Pskov: According to Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, the drone assault on an airbase situated in Pskov, Russia, last Tuesday was initiated from within Russian territory. The attack resulted in two Ilyushin cargo aircraft being obliterated, with another two sustaining damage. Contrarily, Russian sources claim that a total of four planes were impacted.
While Budanov refrained from pinpointing whether the attackers were Ukrainian or Russian operatives, there’s frequent reporting of Ukraine’s drones targeting Russia. The recent admission by Ukraine concerning the Pskov assault suggests a deviation from long-range weaponry, especially with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent revelation of a Ukrainian weapon targeting an objective 700km away – matching Pskov’s distance from Ukraine.
Budanov, in a discussion with the War Zone website, revealed that operations were conducted from within Russian territories. However, he didn’t specify the kind or number of drones deployed. These drones were strategically aimed at the aircraft’s zenith, targeting the fuel reservoirs and vital wing spar sections.
The damaged Ilyushin aircraft, renowned for their long-range capabilities, are optimal for relocating troops and hefty equipment across vast expanses, making them prized assets in Russia’s war machinery.
BBC’s World Affairs expert, Paul Adams, sheds light on the increasing transparency of Ukrainian officials regarding internal Russian attacks. As Ukraine amplifies its warfare initiatives, there’s a discernible inclination to take ownership of these undertakings as pivotal war contributions.
Recent reports highlight the incessant drone assaults on multiple Russian locations from Thursday night to Friday. Allegedly, a manufacturing unit in Lyubertsy, on the outskirts of Moscow, producing electronic components for missiles, was targeted. Despite this, Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed via his Telegram feed that the attacking drones were neutralized, preventing any significant harm or fatalities.
The aftermath of these incursions was evident at Moscow’s airports, where numerous flights faced disruptions, leading to delays and cancellations on Friday. Kursk Region’s governor, Roman Starovoyt, also reported attacks on both a residential and administrative structure in the town of Kurchatov, adjacent to the Kursk nuclear facility.
Concurrently, Ukraine is intensifying its efforts to reclaim territories under Russian control. The Institute for the Study of War recognized noteworthy advances in regions near Bakhmut towards the east, and westward in the Zaporizhzhia district.
In essence, the ongoing tug-of-war between Russia and Ukraine sees innovative tactics, like drone attacks, playing a pivotal role in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.
