Russia on Saturday said it had thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airfield in the northwestern Novgorod region, the first time the region has been targeted since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Today, at around 10:00 am Moscow time, the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack using a copter-type drone on a military airfield in the Novgorod region," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Defense Ministry said the drone was shot down "by small arms," adding that at least one warplane had been damaged but no injuries were reported.
Video shared on social media showed a smoke column rising from the area of the military airfield.
Local media reported that the airfield targeted in the attack is located in the town of Soltsy, located 78 kilometers southwest of the region's capital Veliky Novgorod.
The Novgorod region lies between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Unlike Russia's frontier regions, annexed Crimea and Moscow and its surrounding areas, the Novgorod region has not been targeted since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
AFP contributed to this reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
