 "As Putin bombs Kyiv, Ukraine strikes Russian airbases & defence production plant")
After Vladimir Putin’s latest barrage on Ukrainian cities on Thursday night, Ukraine on Friday said that it struck two Russian airbases and an oil refinery.
Even as Ukraine and Russia are holding direct talks in Turkey, they are locked in a cycle of violence. For weeks, Russia has attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles on a near-daily basis.
In the latest such strikes, Ukraine on Friday said it struck Russia’s Dyagilevo airbase near Moscow and an airbase and an oil depot in Saratov region. An official said that a defence plant was also struck in the Tambov province.
The strikes were reported after Russia attacked Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv , with hundreds of drones and missiles. Ukrainian officials said at least four people were killed in the attack and dozens were injured.
On Sunday, Ukraine had attacked five airbases in Russia with drones and destroyed nearly a third of the country’s long-range, nuclear-capable bombers and surveillance aircraft.
Watch: Ukraine destroys Russian Iskander missile systems in pre-emptive strikes
As Russian leader Putin vowed to respond to the attack in a call with US President Donald Trump, it is not clear if last night’s Russian strikes comprised that retaliation or were part of regular attacks that Russia has been mounting lately.
Ukraine targeted bombers’ base, defence production plant
The Engels airfield that Ukraine struck housed Russia’s bomber aircraft, according to Kyiv Post.
While AFP did not mention the type of aircraft, it quoted the Ukrainian military as saying that the Engels aircraft housed “a place of concentration of enemy aircraft”. As for the Dyagilevo airbase near Moscow, the military said that “refuelling and escort” jets are based there that aid Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe military further said that it struck “at least three fuel and oil tanks” in Saratov.
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Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukrainian government’s Center for Countering Disinformation, told Kyiv Post that drones attacked an oil depot in Engels and the Progress defense plant in Michurinsk in Tambov province.
Kovalenko said that the Progress plant a key part of Russia’s military-industrial complex and its destruction would be a significant blow to the country’s defense production.
The newspaper reported that the plant specialises in the production of high-precision electronic equipment used for targeting, stabilisation, and fire control for artillery and rocket lunch systems. The plant also produces components for automated command and control systems.
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