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Powerful Explosions at Airfield Hosting Su-34s and Refinery Attack: Details on Nighttime Drone Strikes Against russia

Ukrainian Liutyi long-range unmanned aerial vehicle
Ukrainian Liutyi long-range unmanned aerial vehicle

At least two objects on russian territory were attacked by long-range kamikaze drones on the night of July 22

Long-range strike drones carried out an attack on several targets in russia on July 22. Images and videos showing smoke in the target areas and the direct attack of the strike drones have appeared online.

The so-called russian Defense Ministry has traditionally reported on all the destroyed drones. They noted intercepting 75 UAVs, including 47 over Rostov Oblast, one over Belgorod, Voronezh, and Smolensk Oblasts each, eight over Krasnodar Krai, and 17 in the skies over the Black and Azov Seas.

Read more: Satellite Images Reveal Over 60 Aircraft at russian Airfields in Engels, Yeysk and Morozovsk Prior to UAV Attack

Additionally, the russian Defense Ministry later added that around seven in the morning, five aircraft-type UAVs were allegedly intercepted over Astrakhan Oblast. The actual number of drones involved in the attack is unknown.

According to open-source data, one of the targets attacked was a refinery in Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai. Local sources report that the attack allegedly lasted about an hour, from 3:17 to 4:20 a.m. MSK, and that eight UAVs were supposedly intercepted. They also claim that "as a result of the UAV debris falling, the refinery’s infrastructure was damaged."

According to Army TV, the refinery was attacked by drones from the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. It is reported that the first wave involved four UAVs, and later, around 6:25 a.m., two more powerful explosions were heard near the refinery, which led to a fire.

This is not the first time Ukrainian UAVs have attacked the refinery in Tuapse. In particular, it was one of the targets during one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks in May this year. It was also hit on January 25 this year, when a primary oil processing unit was disabled.

Another target for the UAVs was the airfield in Morozovsk. It is worth noting that the 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 1st Guards Composite Aviation Division of the russian Aerospace Forces is based there, and the airfield is primarily used by russia to operate Su-34 fighter-bombers, as well as Su-30 and Su-35 fighters.

Footage showing smoke in the area of the airfield, as well as footage of fires, is spreading online. Locals report at least 8-9 powerful explosions. The results of the attack are still unknown. The "official" version from the regional governor is that dry vegetation caught fire and was "quickly extinguished."

Read more: How the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine's Strike Drone Units Operate (Video)