Politics Russia: State of emergency after attack on military airfield

Massive explosions have occurred following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airfield near Lipetsk. Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram that a state of emergency had been declared around the city of Lipetsk to deal with the consequences of the explosions. Four villages around the military airport were evacuated. Public transport was stopped in Lipetsk and the surrounding area. There were power cuts due to damage to a power plant. Six people were injured as a result of the attacks. The military airport is a good 280 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

An air alert was also triggered in the neighboring regions of Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod and Voronezh. According to the authorities, over 70 drones were intercepted. A further four missiles were also fired over Kursk. Fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops is taking place in the area on the border with Ukraine. Since an attack on Tuesday, Ukrainian troops are said to control several Russian towns near the border.

Ukrainian attacks have also been recorded on the annexed Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. Three Ukrainian drones and a "Neptune" missile were shot down over the sea off the port city of Sevastopol, according to the governor of the large city, Mikhail Rasvoshayev, who was appointed by Moscow. Three naval drones were also destroyed. No damage was reported for the time being.

In its defensive campaign against a Russian invasion, Ukraine repeatedly attacks targets in the Russian hinterland.