Fighter Jets, Helicopters and Ammo Depots Hit in Ukraine Attack on Russia's Military Airfield

Kyiv Post's sources in the  Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in coordination with SBU and the Special Operations Forces (SSO), launched a drone strike on the Russian military airfield Lipetsk-2 early morning on Friday, August 9.

The attack targeted several dozen fighter jets, helicopters, and ammunition depots containing over 700 guided aerial bombs.

"The drone strike caused a powerful explosion, setting off a chain of detonations and a large-scale fire that spread across much of the airfield. Local authorities confirmed the explosions and evacuated nearby residents," the source said. 

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has also confirmed the attack, saying that the Lipets-2 airfield is home to Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 aircraft.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have also reported a strike on Russian anti-aircraft missile divisions in the occupied Donetsk region. They confirmed a direct hit, destroying an S-350 SAM radar.

A fire broke out early Friday, Aug. 9, at a Russian military airfield in the Lipetsk region, located 300 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, according to state media and the local governor.

Authorities ordered evacuations in response to what was described as a “massive” drone attack.

This assault occurred as Ukrainian forces intensified a cross-border offensive in the neighbouring Kursk region, marking one of the most significant attacks on Russian territory since the war with Ukraine began.

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If this information is confirmed, it would be the first time such a weapon had been used since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti reported the fire at the Lipetsk airfield, citing the regional emergencies ministry. However, their reports did not mention the cause of the fire.

Residents were the first ones to spread the message on social media that the drones set off explosions in an ammunition depot after the attack.

Hours before the fire, Lipetsk’s regional governor, Igor Artamonov, announced on Telegram that the area had been subjected to a large-scale drone attack. He later reported explosions away from civilian areas and damage to a local power facility.

Initially, Artamonov advised residents to ignore evacuation calls spread on social media, claiming they were intended to incite panic.

However, he reversed this advice within an hour, announcing a state of emergency in the Lipetsk municipal district and ordering evacuations for four nearby settlements.

Artamonov indicated that six people were reportedly injured in the attack, and local air defences were still active as of 6:00 a.m.

Lipetsk is located about 330 kilometers (210 miles) from the Ukrainian border and near Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian-aligned forces have been conducting a significant incursion involving around 1,000 troops and over two dozen armoured vehicles and tanks, according to Russian military sources.