A massive drone attack by Ukraine targeted Russia’s Lipetsk region, wounding at least nine people and causing significant damage to energy infrastructure.
According to CNN, this led to the temporary evacuation of several areas, according to Lipetsk’s governor Igor Artamonov on Telegram on Friday..
This strike follows an incident earlier in the week where Ukrainian troops reportedly crossed into Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first significant incursion from Ukraine in over two years of conflict.
This development put additional pressure on Moscow in a region relatively untouched by the war until now.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the offensive in his evening address, stating that Moscow must “feel” the repercussions of its invasion.
He remarked, “Russia brought the war to our land, and it should feel what it has done,” without explicitly mentioning the recent attack.
A Ukrainian source revealed that the attack on Lipetsk, located deeper in Russian territory than Kursk, hit an airfield and destroyed an ammunition depot containing over 700 guided bombs.
The operation, involving the military, security services, and special forces, also ignited a large fire at the airfield, where numerous fighter jets and helicopters were present.
Lipetsk’s emergency services confirmed the fire at the military airfield.
Governor Artamonov condemned the attack, stating, “The enemy is hitting civilians in Kursk and Belgorod. Today [it] massively attacked our region with drones. We will not be frightened, we will not give in, but we are not going to risk the lives of our people either.”
The Russian defense ministry reported intercepting and destroying 75 drones, including 19 over Lipetsk, 26 over Belgorod, seven over Kursk, and others over Bryansk, Voronezh, Orel, Crimea, and the Black Sea.
These figures highlight the intensification of Ukraine’s assaults on Russian territory.
This week’s incursion marks a significant shift from previous Ukrainian operations, which primarily involved pro-Ukrainian Russian nationals or targeted airstrikes on border regions.
According to US and Ukrainian officials, the goal is to divert Russian forces from other fronts and disrupt their operations, although there is no intention to permanently occupy Russian territory.
Residents of Kursk reported fierce battles and appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have been assisting with evacuations in the affected areas.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky, praised the Western response to Ukraine’s actions, noting a generally supportive international stance.
He remarked, “Now, a significant part of the global community considers [Russia] a legitimate target for any operations and types of weapons.”
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stanno affirmed Ukraine’s right to defend itself, including strikes on the aggressor’s territory, while US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that Ukraine must determine its own strategies.
