Ukraine struck targets deep inside Russia overnight into Saturday, with explosions reported near a military airbase in Nizhny Novgorod region and an industrial facility in Samara. The attacks followed a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian military, port and energy infrastructure, including the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
Russian monitoring channels reported explosions and fires around Savasleyka military airbase in Nizhny Novgorod region on 15 August. The base hosts MiG-31 aircraft used by Russia to launch Kinzhal missiles against Ukraine, according to the Kyiv Independent.
The Kyiv Independent said monitoring channel Exilenova Plus reported fires near the airfield following explosions. The newspaper said the reports had not been independently verified.
Further explosions were reported in Samara, about 800km from the Ukrainian border. Samara regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed that missiles had struck an industrial facility but did not identify the site. He said authorities were assessing damage and checking for casualties.
The strikes came days after Ukraine carried out an attack on Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s main Black Sea ports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Novorossiysk operation as unusual because Ukrainian forces coordinated a range of weapons developed and manufactured in Ukraine. Ukraine’s General Staff also reported the use of several domestic systems.
Ukrainian outlets RBC and Dev.ua reported that the operation involved Palianytsia, Bars and Peklo missile-drone systems, Neptune missiles and nine types of lighter drones. Some of the drones targeted Russian air defences while other weapons attacked sites around the port.
Ukraine’s General Staff said five Russian naval vessels were destroyed or damaged. It identified the frigates Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen, patrol ship Vasily Bykov, intelligence vessel Priazovye and research vessel Viktor Cherevkov.
The claims have not received independent confirmation. Ukraine struck two frigates and several other Russian naval vessels at Novorossiysk on 12 August. The attack also targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal.
Ukraine has expanded attacks on infrastructure far from the front line during 2026. Its forces have targeted oil refineries, ports, airfields and military logistics sites.
Ukraine’s General Staff said forces struck the Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region on 14 August, damaging two processing facilities and starting a fire, according to the Kyiv Independent. A day earlier, Ukraine said it hit Gazprom’s Neftekhim Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan, about 1,300km from Ukraine.
The attacks have taken place as Russia increases its use of ballistic and hypersonic missiles against Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian military intelligence deputy chief Vadym Skibitskyi told RBC that Russia launched 198 ballistic and hypersonic missiles in July, the highest monthly figure this year. He said Russian factories were producing more than 100 such missiles each month.
Ukraine has also reported gains on the ground. Zelenskyy claimed Ukrainian forces had retaken 745 square kilometres and 26 settlements during an operation in the southern Dnipropetrovsk region.
HT