Ukraine pummels Russia airbase, Moscow continues massive drone assault on Kyiv — hopes of a mediated truce grow dimmer
Ukrainian forces struck the Borisoglebsk airbase in Russia's Voronezh region near the Ukrainian border, hitting a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and 'possibly other aircraft,' the military said.
The calculated strike targeted fighter jets Russia regularly uses in its air strikes, in an effort to put a dent in the Kremlin's military capabilities, according to Ukrainian officials.
4 A Ukrainian anti-aircraft cannon is seen here firing at night.
via REUTERS
Moscow's Defense Ministry said it reported no casualties and claimed no damage.
Last month, Kyiv destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several of the Kremlin's airfields in a surprise drone attack.
Meanwhile, Moscow fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force posted on Telegram.
Most of the attacks were aimed at the city of Starokostiantyniv, an important military hub in western Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi region. The army said it was able to neutralize 292 of the incoming Russian drones.
But some also struck cities in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, where firefighters were seen battling enormous blazes.
A 55-year-old woman was killed, and 15 other civilians were injured, including two children, according to Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov.
4 Firefighters battled a large fire in the Kharkiv region in Ukraine, following a Russian drone attack overnight.
STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock
Syniehubov said Russia used Iranian-made Shahed — so-called 'kamikaze' drones — in the attack, a powerful autonomous weapon designed to attack ground targets from a distance, before being destroyed.
Ukrainian officials have warned of ramped up production of the Iranian weapon in recent days.
4 Smoke could be seen rising over Kyiv at night following a Russian strike Friday morning.
AP
The Saturday offensive came on the heels of Russia's largest air strike since the 2022 conflict began.
Moscow pounded Kyiv with a record 550 drones and a dozen missiles Friday in an onslaught that killed two people and injured 57 others during a seven-hour barrage on the capital city — just hours after President Trump admitted he was 'disappointed' with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a Thursday phone call between the two leaders.
4 Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko visited the site of a missile attack on a residential building Friday.
AFP via Getty Images
The attack damaged roughly 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts, according to Ukrainian officials.
Trump also spoke by phone with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, and the Ukrainian president described the conversation as 'very important and productive.' Zelensky said he was 'grateful for all the support' from the US as the duo talked about boosting Ukraine's air defenses amid Russia's escalations on the battlefield.
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