Russia announced a series of attacks on Ukrainian military airports

Russia announced that it launched long-range missiles at Ukrainian air bases overnight, destroying a series of enemy equipment.

"The Russian armed forces carried out a coordinated strike with long-range guided missiles launched from aircraft, targeting targets at several enemy airfields. The mission of the strike has been completed," said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, referring to the airstrike on Ukraine in the early morning of May 29.

General Konashenkov did not disclose the specific targets of the strike, but said several Ukrainian military command posts, radar stations, air force equipment and ammunition depots were hit.

Explosion in the sky of the capital Kiev in the early morning of May 29. Photo: Reuters — Explosion in the sky of the capital Kiev in the early morning of May 29. Photo: *Reuters*

The Ukrainian Air Force previously announced that it had intercepted 37 out of 40 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS bombers, along with 29 out of 35 suicide drones deployed by Russia. The force affirmed that all Russian weapons aimed at the capital Kiev were intercepted.

The office of the governor of Khmelnitsky Oblast in western Ukraine announced on the same day that several military targets in the area had been attacked. "We are trying to control the fire at fuel, lubricant and ammunition storage facilities, as well as restoring a runway. At least five aircraft have been disabled," the agency said.

This is considered an unusual move, as Ukrainian officials do not usually release information about military facilities hit by Russian attacks. Khmelnitsky Oblast is home to Starokostiantyniv Airport, one of the key bases of the Ukrainian Air Force before the outbreak of hostilities and believed to be the base of a squadron of Su-24 attack aircraft equipped with Storm Shadow guided missiles donated by the UK.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry also reported that infrastructure in the southern port city of Odessa was burned in the attack, but did not disclose the extent of the damage. Ukraine's TSN TV channel also reported that explosions were heard in the western Lviv region and the central Poltava region.

The situation of the war in Ukraine. Graphics: WP

Western military experts believe that Russia is launching repeated attacks using cheap UAVs to deplete ammunition for Ukraine’s air defense systems. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly expressed concerns to the West about the risk of a shortage of anti-aircraft missiles before the counterattack, which they have repeatedly mentioned.

Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate, said on May 19 that Russia is focusing on attacking bases and ammunition depots to disrupt their counterattack preparations, instead of trying to destroy energy infrastructure as before.

Vu Anh (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters )

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