Night Drone Attack: What We Know About the Incidents in Voronezh Region
During the night of June 4 to 5, a surprising aerial incursion took place in the Voronezh region of Russia — unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched an attack on one of the region’s critical military airfields, causing considerable concern among military personnel and local residents alike. According to Russian media outlets and activists, the incident targeted the airfield in the city of Borisoglebsk, where a base of the Russian Aerospace Forces is located, specifically the 160th Training Aviation Regiment, which is part of the 786th Training Center for Flight Personnel. Regional authorities have only reported killing a few UAVs and have not confirmed a direct strike on the military infrastructure, while social media accounts indicate damage to technical facilities and aircraft assets. The airfield, used for training cadets on Su-25 and Yak-130 aircraft, as well as potentially other combat aircraft such as Su-30, Su-34, and Su-35, was once again targeted by drones. This is not the first attack on this facility: on the night of August 14, 2024, drones damaged hangars and technical structures, and on October 3 of the previous year, there was an attack that damaged ammunition depots, fuel storage, and aircraft including Su-34 and Su-35 models. Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev stated that air defenses shot down several UAVs, and, fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or destruction. He did not specify the exact locations where the drones fell or what targets they might have aimed at. As of now, Ukrainian authorities and military officials have not publicly commented on the attack. It is worth noting that Ukrainian special services have previously destroyed ammunition depots near the occupied city of Khartsyzsk, demonstrating ongoing active resistance and the use of UAV technology in ongoing hostilities.