For the second consecutive day, drone attacks have been reported in Russian territory, targeting strategic infrastructure.
A drone attack was first reported at an airfield in the Russian region of Kursk, around 100 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, on December 6, 2022.
“As a result of a drone attack, an oil storage tank caught fire in the area of the Kursk airfield,” Roman Starovoyt, the governor of the Kursk region, reported on Telegram. “There were no casualties. The fire is localized. All intelligence agencies are on site.”
The morning starts with a new fire at the Russian airfield
— M (@am_misfit) December 6, 2022
This time, an oil storage tank caught fire in the area of the Kursk airfield as a result of a drone attack. Now there is a massive fire. pic.twitter.com/naAaHWV9P9
Kursk Vostochny Airport (URS) houses the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment flying the Sukhoi Su-30SM air superiority fighter.
Later the same day, two more drone strikes were reported at the Slava oil plant in Bryansk, 80 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The drones fell near the tanks.
The same facility, which is operated by the Russian Federal Agency for State Reserves, had previously been targeted by a drone attack on November 30, 2022, causing a large fire that spread to three tanks.
Ukraine bringing the fight to Russia?
These new attacks occurred a day after explosions were reported at two strategic bomber bases deep into Russian territory. Russia’s defense ministry said Ukrainian drones carried out strikes on these air bases. The Ukrainian authorities have not claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.
Following the strikes on its air bases, Russia conducted one of its most extensive bombing campaigns to date, with 70 cruise missiles launched from strategic bombers and warships, targeting civilian infrastructure.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 60 of the missiles were intercepted. However, the Ukrainian electricity operator Ukrenergo reported some damages to its facilities.
“Due to the consequences of shelling, part of the power plants will not be able to work at full capacity for a certain time,” Ukrenergo reported on Telegram. “To preserve the balance between the production and consumption of electricity in all regions of Ukraine, a regime of emergency shutdowns will be introduced. First of all, electricity will be supplied to critical infrastructure facilities: hospitals, waterworks, boiler houses.”