Russian City Hit by 16 Blasts Overnight as Drones Target Baltimore Airfield

Blasts rocked a Russian city that hosts a military air base following what Moscow has described as a "terrorist" Ukrainian drone attack.

Reports vary about how many unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were involved, with Ukrainian news outlet TSN reporting there were at least 16 blasts overnight Monday, while Moscow said its air defenses had downed three of the devices.

The explosions come as Ukraine is reportedly stepping up drone attacks on Russian territory, including military sites, although often Kyiv does not claim direct responsibility for them. Since the New Year, Russia has increased its aerial bombardment of cities in Ukraine, testing the country's air defenses.

On Tuesday, social media users posted video of buildings targeted in Voronezh which is located around 280 miles south of Moscow.

Pro-Kremlin military Telegram channel Rybar said that Ukraine had "made another attempt to attack Voronezh" with eight drones intercepted near the city. One drone hit a multi-story building where a fire broke out in an apartment.

The attacks also smashed windows in neighboring properties, injuring a 10-year-old girl who was treated at the scene and prompting city authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The Telegram channel Shot said windows in buildings in Ostrogozhskaya Street were also damaged and that "one of the targets could be the Baltimore airfield."

Also known as Voronezh Malshevo, the air base is part of Russia's 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army in the country's Western Military District.

"The enemy has repeatedly tried to attack facilities in Voronezh, including the Baltimore military airfield, where Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers are based," Rybar said next to stills and video of the affected buildings. It noted that the city also hosts large factories, including an aircraft construction firm.

Meanwhile, the Telegram channel Baza posted video on Telegram of what it said was the aftermath of the attacks, showing smashed windows and debris.

It said Ukraine attacked the Voronezh Region with two waves of UAVs. The first one starting at 2 a.m. local time, lasting an hour and a half, during which time six drones were shot down by air defenses.

Two drones fell in the Khokholsky district, while two more UAVs were shot down by Russian troops in the Semiluki district, the outlet said, noting there were no casualties.

Baza said that three hours later there was another Ukrainian drone attack in which two of the devices were shot down near the Baltimore airfield and there were no casualties. Voronezh regional Governor Alexander Gusev said in total, there was damage to 35 apartments in three buildings.

The Russian Defense Ministry said between 1.50 a.m. and 2.50 a.m., three Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Voronezh region after Kyiv's attempt "to carry out a terrorist attack using aircraft-type UAVs on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," state news agency Tass reported.

It comes a day after the governor of Russia's Kursk region said Ukrainian drones struck the village of Tetkino, located on the border with Ukraine's Sumy region.

Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for comment.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.