Ukrainian military intelligence drones this morning attacked the Gorbunov aircraft factory in Kazan, Tatarstan, eastern Russia, where Tu-22M and Tu-160M strategic bombers are produced and repaired. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing special services sources. Local media reported explosions inside the factory perimeter immediately after the alarm sirens sounded. The company was evacuated.
Rosaviatsia (the Federal agency for air transport of the Russian federation) declared that arrivals and departures have been suspended at the airports of Kazan, Nizhnyokamsk and Nizhny Novgorod, writes Rbc-Ukraine.
The Russian army launched three missile attacks this morning near the center of Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine: eleven civilians died and more than 50 were injured, including three children, according to a provisional toll provided by the presidential office , quoted by the media. The bombing destroyed an eight-story building, four apartment buildings, a hospital, a school and several cars. Authorities believe there may be people under the rubble.
"Chernihiv. Rescue operations continue after a Russian missile attack. People are trapped under the rubble. My condolences to the families and friends," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. "This would not have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defense equipment and if the world's determination to counter Russian terror had been sufficient. Support matters," he added.
Meanwhile, according to a count by BBC Russia and the independent media group Mediazona, the death toll of Russian soldiers in Ukraine has exceeded 50,000. The tally in the second year of the war was nearly 25 percent higher than in the first, and includes more than 27,300 Russian soldiers killed.
"The overall toll is 8 times higher than Moscow's official admission. The number is likely to be much higher", writes the BBC, speaking of a "meat grinder strategy", i.e. the way in which Moscow sends waves of soldiers to advance relentlessly to try to wear down Ukrainian forces.
Explosions and fires at the Russian military airport of Dzhankov in Crimea
The monitoring group Crimean Wind reports that during the night there were explosions and large fires in and near the Russian military airport of Dzhankoy, in Crimea, a peninsula unilaterally annexed by Moscow ten years ago. Ukrainian media show the image of the flames at the airport posted by Crimean Wind.
According to residents, the explosions occurred before the air raid alert was announced. "The VIIRS/Suomi NPP satellite recorded six outbreaks of powerful fires at the Russian military airport Dzhankoya. The time of recovery was 3.41 am Moscow time," says Crimean Wind.