International Desk: A drone attack has taken place at an airport in the western Russian city of Pskov, which is located near the border of Latvia and Estonia. There was a massive explosion, and four large transport aircraft were damaged. There were also reports of widespread shelling.
Russia’s state-run Tass news agency said early on Wednesday (Aug. 30) that four Russian Il-76 heavy transport aircraft were damaged in the drone strike, citing emergency services. These transport aircraft have long been the workhorses of the Russian military. The airport in Pskov, which was attacked, is about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the border with Ukraine.
The regional governor, Mikhail Vedernikov, posted a video of the large fire, followed by explosions and the sound of sirens. He later said on the Telegram messaging app, “The Ministry of Defense is repelling a drone attack on the airport in Pskov. Vedernikov, who was at the scene of the attack, said, “According to preliminary information, no casualties have been reported. He also said that the extent of damage to the airport from the attack is being assessed. Flights are currently restricted in the Pskov region, and the airspace around Moscow’s Vnukovo airport was also temporarily closed early Wednesday, Tass reported, citing Russian aviation officials.
The closure of Moscow’s airport came amid reports that the Russian military was repelling a drone attack on Pskov airport, the Russian news agency said. The Russian military, meanwhile, said early Wednesday it had downed a Ukrainian drone in Russia’s southern Bryansk region and central Orlov and Ryazan regions.
