Ukraine strikes Marinovka military airfield near Volgograd
Purported footage of a fire in the area of the Marinovka airbase in Russia's Volgograd Oblast on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Astra via Telegram)
Ukraine has carried out a drone strike on the Marinovka military airfield in the southern Russian region of Volgograd, targeting a storage site for fuel and glide bombs, according to a security source in Kyiv.
The attack is part of an ongoing Ukrainian campaign aimed at disrupting Russian airfields used by warplanes for strikes on Ukrainian territory.
Volgograd’s governor, Andrei Bocharov, confirmed that a fire had broken out at the military facility after Ukrainian drones crashed into it. He stated that there were no casualties because of the incident.
The strike occurred as Ukrainian forces continued their efforts to diminish Russia’s air capabilities, which have been a significant factor in the ongoing conflict.
Destruction at Marinovka Airbase
Ukraine’s SBU security service claimed responsibility for the strike, targeting a base housing approximately 30 Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets, which regularly conduct bombing missions against Ukrainian positions.
“Russia actively uses the Marinovka airfield in the Volgograd region to bomb front lines in Ukraine,” the source told the Kyiv Independent.
The airbase, situated 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) west of Volgograd near Kalach-na-Donu, was severely impacted, though the extent of the damage to the jets remains unclear. A Russian witness described the scene as catastrophic, stating, “It’s all on fire. It’s all exploding.”
Escalation of Kyiv’s drone offensive
The strike on Marinovka is the latest in a series of increasingly ambitious drone attacks by Ukraine, which have targeted over 200 sites across Russia, including oil depots, refineries, and arms factories.
Recent strikes have hit airbases in Borisoglebsk and Savasleyka, as well as a major attack on Moscow and the Arctic Murmansk region, where Russian strategic bombers are located. Russia’s defense ministry reported that all hostile drones were downed.
Strategic gains, continuing conflict
Amid the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Sumy region, near the Russian border, where Ukrainian forces have been carrying out operations to relieve pressure on the Donbas front.
Despite these efforts, Russian forces have continued their advance in Donetsk, particularly around the town of Pokrovsk, which is now only 7 miles from the Russian front line. Moscow has reinforced its units in the area, intensifying attacks on key Ukrainian positions.
