RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Russia conducts ‘retaliatory strikes’ on Ukrainian airfield – MOD
Russian forces have conducted overnight strikes on a Ukrainian airfield in the western Rovno Region, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Monday. The strikes are part of Moscow’s retaliation for Ukrainian “terrorist attacks” against Russian air forces, the statement said.
Last week, Ukrainian intelligence services claimed to have delivered a significant blow to Russian air power by bombing airfields deep inside the country with short-range first person view drones launched from concealed compartments in freight cars. Moscow has accused Kiev of seriously exaggerating the effect of the operation.
The Russian military has framed several of its recent operations as retaliation for the drone plot as well as the deadly derailment of a passenger train which occurred on the same day. Investigators have said forensic evidence unequivocally linked the incident to Kiev’s broader efforts to sabotage transport infrastructure and demoralize the Russian public.
The latest retaliation strikes included an attack on an airfield near the town of Dubno, as well as the bombing of Ukrainian weapons plants, locations where Ukrainian kamikaze drones were being assembled, munition depots, and other military targets, the ministry said on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the ministry reported that overnight Russian air defense forces had intercepted 79 Ukrainian kamikaze drones, which Kiev launches daily against targets deep inside Russia. One such recent operation caused a major blackout in the border Kursk Region, according to local authorities.
Ukrainian media claimed that Russia used hypersonic air-launched Kinzhal rockets to strike the Dubno airfield, but Moscow did not specify the weapons involved. Kiev reportedly stations some Western-donated F-16 fighter jets in Rovno Region alongside its Soviet legacy warplanes.
WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
Russia launches biggest drone attack on Ukraine, targets military airfield, Kyiv says
Russia hit Ukraine overnight with its largest drone attack since the start of the war, causing some damage at a military airfield in the west of the country that was one of its main targets, the Ukrainian air force said on Monday.
It was the latest in Russian onslaughts since Ukraine destroyed a number of Russian bombers in drone attacks on air bases deep inside Russia earlier this month.
Ukraine's air defence units downed 460 out of 479 drones and 19 out of 20 missiles launched by the Russian forces, the air force said in a statement.
A military airfield close to Ukraine's western border was the key target, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said.
"The main strike was targeting... one of the operational air fields. There are some hits," Ihnat told Ukrainian TV, without elaborating on the damage.
The airfield is in the city of Dubno, about 60 km (40 miles) from Ukraine's border with Poland, Ukrainian regional authorities said.
Polish and allied aircraft were activated early on Monday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Polish armed forces said.
Russia's Defence Ministry said the attack was another strike in response to Kyiv's attacks on Russian bases this month, adding that "all designated facilities" had been hit.
The more than three-year-old war in Ukraine has been escalating as the peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow have so far failed to yield any significant results.
The two sides remain deeply divided on how to end the war. Ukraine is pushing for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step, something Russia has repeatedly rejected.
RT/Reuters
