Russia says its Pskov airport hit by drone attack


Damien McElroy
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Drones used in attacks that included one causing damage to four transport aircraft at an airport in western Russia have been shot down over six regions, Moscow has said.

Russia also claimed to have destroyed a Ukrainian naval attack on the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Russia launched air attacks of its own on Wednesday morning, killing at least two people in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Russian military repelled the airfield attack and there were no injuries, said Pskov Governor Mikhail Vedernikov.

The regions of Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol, Ryazan and Moscow were also targeted.

The attack took place at the airport in the city of Pskov, about 30km from Russia's border with Estonia, said Estonia's Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur.

“We are monitoring very closely the situation in our neighbourhood,” he told reporters in Toledo, where EU defence ministers gathered on Wednesday for an informal meeting.

Four Il-76 transport aircraft, long the workhorse of the Russian military, were damaged at the military airfield, Tass news agency quoted emergency services as saying.

“A fire broke out and two planes burst into flames,” Tass reported.

Videos posted by Russian media showed thick black smoke rising over the airport. They quoted posts of local residents who heard explosions and gunfire.

Reports on Telegram channels said anti-aircraft systems were in action around the city.

A plume of smoke is illuminated by a flash of light amid a drone attack in Pskov, Russia.
A plume of smoke is illuminated by a flash of light amid a drone attack in Pskov, Russia.

Russia said Ukrainian drones tried to attack a TV tower over the Bryansk region. No casualties were reported.

A Russian aircraft also destroyed four Ukrainian fast-attack boats carrying up to 50 paratroopers in an operation on the Black Sea, the military said.

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Updated: August 30, 2023, 11:35 PM