Editor's note: The article incorrectly said that Governor Vasily Golubev claimed that a drone strike targeted an airbase in the Morozovsk district. Golubov reported only an attack against the district.
A "massive attack" on the Morozovsk district in Rostov Oblast, Russia, damaged a power substation, Governor Vasily Golubev claimed in the early hours of April 5.
According to Golubev, Russian air defense units intercepted over 40 drones in the area. Local Telegram channels claimed, citing residents, that the drones targeted a local airbase. No casualties were reported.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Morozovsk airbase hosts Su-34 aircraft, which actively operate along the Ukrainian front lines, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty wrote.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that on the morning of April 5, its air defense downed 53 Ukrainian drones, including 44 in Rostov Oblast, six in Krasnodar Krai, one in Kursk, Saratov, and Belgorod oblasts.
Meanwhile, Kursk Oblast Governor Roman Starovoyt contradicted the Russian Defense Ministry report claiming four Ukrainian kamikaze drones attacked the border region.
No casualties were reported.
Roman Busargin, the Saratov Oblast governor, reported a drone was downed in the city of Engels early in the morning of April 5.
The city is home to Russia's Engels airbase, located around 730 kilometers southeast of Moscow and hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine. It reportedly hosts Tu-95 and Tu-22 bomber planes, often used for attacks against Ukrainian cities.
No casualties or destruction were reported.
The Shot Telegram channel also claimed that, according to local residents, explosions were heard near a military airfield in Yeysk, Krasnodar Krai. Local official Roman Bublik claimed that Russian defenses repelled an attack against the Yeysk district.
Ukrainian troops have intensified strikes against military and industrial targets in Russia in recent weeks. Ukraine has used domestically produced long-range drones to successfully attack oil refineries and weapons facilities, prompting Russia to announce increased air defense efforts in these areas.
Golubev claimed on March 25 that a transformer substation at the Novocherkassk State District Power Plant in Rostov Oblast caught fire overnight, following reports from local residents about explosions in the area amid an alleged drone attack.
Kateryna Denisova
(Updated: )
