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Editor's note: The latest article on the attack can be found here.
Ukraine allegedly launched a massive attack overnight on Russian targets, with the Kremlin claiming to have destroyed 117 drones and four missiles on Aug. 14.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its air defense shot down 37 drones and four missiles over Kursk Oblast, 37 over Voronezh Oblast, 17 over Belgorod Oblast, 11 over Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, nine over Volgograd Oblast, three over Bryansk Oblast, two over Oryol Oblast, and one over Rostov Oblast.
If confirmed, it would be the largest drone attack by Ukraine throughout the entire full-scale war. A previous attack in May saw the Kremlin claiming to have downed 102 drones.
Russian Telegram channels claimed explosions in the village of Savasleyka in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, which hosts a Russian airbase and is located some 650 kilometers (403 miles) from the border with Ukraine.
Russian warplanes are based at the Savasleyka airfield, including MiG-31K aircraft, a carrier of Kinzhal ballistic missiles that Russia uses to attack Ukraine.
Explosions were also reported in the town of Borisoglebsk in Voronezh Oblast, where another Russian airfield is located, and near the Baltimore (Malshevo) airbase near Voronezh.
Voronezh Oblast lies in western Russia and borders the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. Voronezh and Borisoglebsk are located 180 and 260 kilometers (110 and 160 miles) from the Ukrainian border, respectively.
Gleb Nikitin, the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast governor, and Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexandr Gusev confirmed the drone attack on the regions without reporting possible damages.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published NASA satellite imagery that seems to confirm fires near the Savasleyka and Baltimore airbases.
The Kyiv Independent reached out to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Oleg Sukhov
