A number of “Soviet-made” jet drones, flying at low altitude, targeted the long-range strategic aviation assets at the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan Region and Engels airfield in Saratov Region, the ministry said.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Monday confirmed that Ukrainian drone strike on two military airbases in the Ryazan and Saratov regions has resulted in the death of three service members, while two airplanes were damaged.
A number of “Soviet-made” jet drones, flying at low altitude, targeted the long-range strategic aviation assets at the Dyagilevo airfield in Ryazan Region and Engels airfield in Saratov Region, the ministry said, according to RT report.
The ministry said though the drones were detected and shot down by air defenses, the debris impacted the airfields “slightly” damaging two aircraft.
Three service members were “fatally injured” while four more were taken to military hospitals for treatment.
The “terrorist act” did nothing to disrupt the work of Russian strategic aviation, the ministry added, noting that a “massive strike” was carried out against Ukrainian energy, defense industry, communication and military command centers on Monday afternoon local time. The strikes successfully disrupted the rail transport of Ukrainian troops, foreign-supplied weapons, equipment and ammunition to the front lines.
“All 17 assigned objectives were hit,” the ministry stated.
Ukrainian drones have previously attacked the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol and targeted the Russian navy in Crimea, but Monday’s attack reached deep inside Russia.
The Dyagilevo airfield is more than 500 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory, while Engels is about 700 km away.