Our latest drone attacks killed 20 air officers, destroyed warplanes in Russia – Ukraine claims

Ukraine has claimed that its drone attack targeting the Morozovsk airbase in Russia has killed or injured 20 members of airfield personnel.

It claimed that the drone also badly damaged eight other Russian warplanes, according to officials in Kyiv.

Russian defence officials, however, said they intercepted the Ukrainian drones numbering 40.

Russia further said that only a power substation was damaged in the barrage.

Neither side’s claims could be independently verified, according to the Guardian UK.

Morozovsk airbase is used by Russian tactical bombers that launch guided bombs at the Ukrainian military and frontline towns and cities, according to a Kyiv source.

Meanwhile, Russia fired five missiles on Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Friday, killing at least four people, injuring 20 and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities.

The regional governor said two journalists covering the aftermath of the strikes were among those wounded in the city, near the war’s frontline.

Ivan Fedorov, the governor, said: “First there were two missile strikes, and then, about 40 minutes later, there were other strikes at the same place – just as rescuers, police started working.”

Reuters TV footage showed reporters rushing to help colleagues lying injured on the ground before emergency crews arrived.