Russian Attack Damages Ukrainian Military Airfield

ILLUSTRATION/Obviously Alexander Shcherbak/TAPS

JAKARTA - Russia attacked Ukraine with its largest drone strike that caused damage to military airfields in the western part of the country.

It was Russia's latest attack since Ukraine destroyed a number of Russian bombers in a drone strike on an airbase deep inside Russia earlier this month.

Ukraine's air defense unit crashed 460 out of 479 drones and 19 out of 20 missiles launched by Russian troops.

The military airfield close to Ukraine's western border is the main target, said air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat.

"The main attack targeted one of the operational airfields. There were several attacks," Ihnat told Ukrainian TV, without elaborating on the damage.

The airfield is in the city of Dubno, about 60 km (40 miles) from Ukraine's border with Poland, Ukrainian regional authorities said.

Polish aircraft and allies were activated on Monday morning to ensure the security of Polish airspace, Polish armed forces said.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the attack was another attack in response to Kyiv's attack on Russian bases this month, adding that all targeted facilities had been hit.

The war, which has lasted for more than three years in Ukraine, has escalated as peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow have so far failed to produce significant results.

Both sides are still arguing about how to end the war.

Ukraine pushed for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step, something Russia has repeatedly rejected.