Ukrainian drones attack four Russian military airports

In the early morning of August 14, 2024, Ukraine dispatched drones to launch attacks on four Russian military airports: Voronezh, Kursk, Savaslyka, and Borisoglebsk.

It is reported that this operation was jointly planned and implemented by the Ukrainian Security Service, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and the unmanned systems forces of the Ukrainian army. The Ukrainian side claimed this as a special planned operation, aiming to prevent the Russian army from using these airports to launch attacks on the frontline and Ukrainian cities.

The Ukrainian military stated that the attack was intended to destroy the fuel depots and aircraft warehouses at the airports to protect the country from Russian air strikes, but no more details or information on the damage suffered by the Russian side were provided.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have successfully shot down almost all the incoming drones, totaling 117, but this number awaits further independent verification. Social media and related reports show that there were at least 10 explosions at the Savasleka Air Base, and some fuel depots and hangars were destroyed, which may affect the supply of special aviation fuel for the MiG-31K. In addition, the Baltimore Air Base in Voronezh and the Borisoglebsk Air Base were also attacked, triggering explosions and the spread of fires.

This is the largest air strike by Ukraine inside Russia in the two and a half years since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Its scale and depth have attracted widespread attention and may have a certain impact on the development of the Russia-Ukraine situation.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has a long history, which can be traced back to Ukraine's independence and related territorial disputes after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, especially the issue of the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's crucial geographical location makes it the focus of conflicts between the East and the West. Russia aims to maintain its regional influence, while Ukraine hopes to obtain stronger security guarantees by joining NATO. Faced with the complex situation, the international community generally calls for resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations and other means to avoid casualties and property losses and maintain regional peace and stability. As of now, the Russian authorities have not yet made a comprehensive response to the details of this attack, and the specific losses still await further investigation and verification.