Ukrainian
drones have attacked a military airfield in
Crimea
overnight, the country’s military has claimed.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said it had struck the Kirovske military airfield and destroyed three helicopters.
The
drone
attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, plus a Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the SBU claimed.
It said it also targeted Russian aviation, air defense systems, plus ammunition, reconnaissance and attack drones storage facilities.
Unverified footage appearing to show the attack has been shared on X.
According to reports, secondary explosions were heard during the night. at the airfield, which is located near the town of Kirovske on the east of the peninsula.
An Ukrainian military official said: “Available data indicate the destruction of multi-purpose and attack helicopters Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28, as well as the self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun complex Pantsir-S1.”
Meanwhile, two people died and at least 17 more were injured as Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, Ukrainian authorities said.
A Russian drone slammed into a residential tower block in the city, causing damage to three floors and trapping residents, emergency services said.
The two people killed in the attack were a married couple, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper, who added that three children were among the injured.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, more than 40 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight and on Saturday morning, over western Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea.
The attacks come as Volodymyr Zelensky described his meeting with Donald Trump at the Nato summit this week as “good”, saying they discussed defending Ukraine’s skies and Russian sanctions, according to reports.
The pair are said to have discussed many topics, including the supply of Patriot missiles, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Zelensky’s statement at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Zelenksy reportedly added: “I had a good meeting with President Trump. The range of topics is the widest. We discussed all issues related primarily to Patriot, how to defend our skies, and other steps related to the negotiation process, as well as the sanctions direction, our bilateral relations after the signing of the bilateral agreement.”
It was also reported that the pair agreed to establish direct links between several of their ministers including the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.
The Ukrainian president is said to have added: “We discussed many issues. What matters is that both sides will continue working. I think the tone of the conversation was productive. That’s a good sign.”
Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russia in recent weeks, including on 27 June, when it struck four Su-34 fighter jets at the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast.
Kyiv claims that two Russian fighter jets were destroyed in the attack, and the other two were damaged.
Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2020, Ukraine has launched several attacks into Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in early 2014.
The i Paper
takes a look at some of the attacks.In August 2022, Ukraine destroyed multiple warplanes at the Saky air military base in Crimea. Ukraine said that nine Russian aircraft had been destroyed in multiple blasts which killed one person and injured another 14.
Two people were killed and one was injured following explosions on the Kerch bridge that links Russia to Crimea in July 2023. Ukraine’s security service (SBU) claimed responsibility, and said they used seaborne
drones
in the blast.In August last year, the
Ukrainian
military claimed to have sunk a submarine near the port of Sevastopol, before launching a wave of drone attacks inside enemy territory overnight on Saturday.In October last year
a major offshore oil terminal
near the city of Feodosia on the Crimean coast was attacked in a Ukrainian drone strike. The blaze raged for four days before it was extinguished by firefighters
