Ukraine reported striking a Russian military air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to launch hundreds of drones across Ukraine, intensifying a campaign that underscores the enduring nature of the conflict now in its third year. These events highlight the ongoing aerial warfare and efforts by both sides to target infrastructure.
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Ukraine Reports Strike on Borisoglebsk Air Base
Ukraine’s military General Staff stated that its forces conducted a strike on the Borisoglebsk air base, located in Russia’s Voronezh region. The base is identified as a home for Russian Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM fighter jets.
According to a statement on Facebook, the strike targeted a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft, and potentially other aircraft assets at the facility.
Strikes against Russian air bases are part of Ukraine’s strategy to degrade Russia’s military capabilities and demonstrate the ability to reach high-value targets deep within Russian territory. This follows previous incidents, such as Ukraine’s claim last month to have destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft at various airfields through drone attacks.
Russian officials have not publicly commented on the reported Borisoglebsk attack.
Russia Launches Extensive Drone Barrage on Ukraine
Overnight into Saturday, Russia launched a significant number of drones and decoys into Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force reported detecting 322 such projectiles. Of these, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 157. Another 135 were reported lost, likely due to electronic jamming countermeasures.
The primary target of this particular barrage was Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, according to the air force. However, the regional governor, Serhii Tyurin, reported no damage, injuries, or fatalities in the area as of Saturday.
This wave of attacks is consistent with Russia’s increased use of long-range strikes against Ukraine. Kyiv experienced a large aerial assault overnight into Friday, described as the most extensive since the start of the full-scale invasion. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed on Saturday that the death toll from the Friday assault on the capital had risen to two, with 31 people injured.
Diplomatic Activity and Military Aid Context
The recent intensified attacks occurred shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday. Zelenskyy described the call as “very important and productive.”
Discussions reportedly included ways to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, potential joint weapons production between the U.S. and Ukraine, and broader diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. to achieve an end to the conflict.
When asked about the call, Trump stated, “We had a very good call, I think,” but offered no certainty on the prospect of ending the fighting, saying, “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.”
The conversation comes at a time when the U.S. has paused some military aid shipments to Ukraine, including critical air defense missiles. Ukraine is exploring alternatives, with European allies considering increased support and Ukraine actively planning to expand its domestic arms industry, though scaling up is expected to take time.
Russia’s Counterclaims and Reported Damage
Russia’s Defense Ministry also reported significant aerial activity over the same period. It claimed to have shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, followed by another 30 drones on Saturday morning.
Russian officials reported no casualties from these alleged Ukrainian drone attacks. However, local officials in the Saratov region stated that 25 apartments in the city of Engels were damaged by Ukrainian drones.
In summary, the weekend featured a continuation of intense aerial warfare, with Ukraine reporting a strike on a Russian air base and Russia conducting widespread drone attacks across Ukraine, alongside diplomatic discussions regarding aid and peace efforts.
