Kyiv hits Russian air base as drones pound Ukraine

Ukraine has struck a Russian air base and Russia continues to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war.

Ukraine’s military General Staff said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region, describing it as the “home base” of Russia’s Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets.

Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and “possibly other aircraft”.

Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack.

Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia’s military capability and demonstrate Ukraine’s capability to hit high-value targets in Russia.

In June, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia’s territory in a surprise drone attack.

Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine’s air force said.

Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

According to the air force, Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack.

Regional governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported.

Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine.

Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded.

The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he had a “very important and productive” phone call with US President Donald Trump.

The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defences might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksiy.

Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, “We had a very good call, I think.”

When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.”

The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence missiles.

Ukraine’s main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack.

Zelenskiy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time.

Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported.