Volgograd, Russia: A significant Ukrainian drone attack targeted Oktyabrskoye Airfield in Volgograd Oblast on Tuesday night, leading to a series of explosions and fires at the Russian military base. The airfield, located in Marinovka near Volgograd, is approximately 290 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Local reports indicate that at least 12 explosions were heard near the airbase, with the site still engulfed in flames hours after the strike. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke and fire rising from the airfield, and the situation remains volatile with ongoing explosions.
The attack comes as Russia’s military continues its operations on multiple fronts. On Tuesday, Russian forces claimed to have thwarted Ukrainian assaults on four settlements in the western Kursk region and captured the strategic logistics hub of Niu-York in eastern Ukraine, also known as Novgorodskoye.
Moscow is under increasing pressure from Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which has led to significant shifts on the battlefield. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged the “difficult” situation on Ukraine’s eastern frontline, particularly near the strategic hubs of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, where intense combat is ongoing.
In the wake of the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, over 122,000 Russians have reportedly fled border areas, according to Russian media. The mass exodus follows Kyiv’s surprise counterattack, which has destabilized several regions.
Amid the escalating tensions, Russia summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to protest the “provocative actions” of American journalists reporting from the contested Kursk region. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused U.S. reporters of “illegally” entering the area to produce “propaganda coverage” of Kyiv’s activities.
Adding to the turmoil, Russia’s FSB Security Service detained a scientist in Moscow on suspicion of state treason, accusing him of carrying out cyberattacks on critical infrastructure on behalf of Ukrainian security services.
Meanwhile, civilians are evacuating eastern Ukrainian cities such as Pokrovsk as Russian forces rapidly advance despite Ukraine’s recent incursions into Russian territory. Local authorities have ordered families to leave the area as the situation deteriorates.
In a related development, Ukraine’s parliament passed a landmark bill paving the way for a ban on the Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The legislation seeks to prohibit religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, a move seen as part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to sever ties with Moscow.
As the conflict intensifies, Russian authorities are struggling to contain a massive fire in the southern Rostov region, now in its third day, following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil depot. This incident underscores the growing reach of Ukraine’s military operations within Russian territory.
Key Points:
- Ukrainian Drone Strike: Ukrainian drones targeted Oktyabrskoye Airfield in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, leading to multiple explosions and ongoing fires.
- Location: The strike occurred at Marinovka, near Volgograd, approximately 290 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
- Casualties and Damage: Local sources reported at least 12 explosions at the airbase, with the site still ablaze and explosions continuing.
- Russian Military Response: Russia claimed to have repelled Ukrainian attacks in the western Kursk region and captured the logistics hub of Niu-York (Novgorodskoye) in eastern Ukraine.
- Civilian Exodus: Over 122,000 Russians fled border regions following Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kursk region.
- Diplomatic Tensions: Russia summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to protest alleged “provocative actions” by American journalists covering the conflict in Kursk.
- FSB Arrest: Russia’s FSB detained a scientist in Moscow on suspicion of state treason, accusing him of cyberattacks on behalf of Ukraine.
- Ukrainian Evacuations: Civilians in eastern Ukrainian cities like Pokrovsk are evacuating as Russian forces advance.
- Legislation: Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill aimed at banning the Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
- Ongoing Conflict: Russian authorities are battling a massive fire in the Rostov region following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil depot.
