Escalation between Moscow and Kyiv targets airports and energy facilities

The Russian-Ukrainian war witnessed a new escalation with Kyiv announcing on Thursday the execution of a missile strike targeting a military airport in the Russian Voronezh region, coinciding with a Russian drone attack that damaged a gas production facility in the Ukrainian Poltava region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on his X platform account that "Ukrainian forces launched a missile attack during the past night on a military airport inside Russian territory," confirming the destruction of four Su-34 fighter jets and damage to two others using the long-range Neptune missile.

Zelenskyy posted a picture he said was taken by satellites showing traces of fires and damage at the targeted airport, while no immediate comment was issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding these claims. In contrast, the Ukrainian Navy announced, according to Ukrinform, that the attack on the Borisoglebsk military airport in Voronezh resulted in the destruction of six Su-34M bombers along with special equipment supporting air operations, noting that results are still under verification.

The Ukrainian Navy confirmed that these aircraft are among the most prominent means used by the Russian military to carry out air strikes against Ukrainian troop positions and front lines, considering that their destruction will affect Russian offensive capabilities. In the same context, Ukraine has intensified its long-range attacks on airports and military bases inside Russian territory in recent months, targeting aircraft used in air operations against Ukrainian land.

For its part, a gas production facility belonging to the Naftogaz group in the Ukrainian Poltava region was subjected to a Russian drone attack, leading to a fire, damage to operational equipment, and a halt in work at the facility. The company clarified that "the attack did not result in human casualties, while efforts to assess the extent of damage and losses are ongoing, amidst repeated attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure." Russia continues to target energy facilities and vital infrastructure to undermine Ukraine's economic and logistical capabilities as the war enters its fifth year.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)