For the first time, Ukraine has launched an airstrike on Russian territory from a military aircraft. According to Sky News, a Ukrainian military source confirmed that a "Russian command post" in the Belgorod region was targeted.
Details of the Attack
The Ukrainian source told Sky News that the strike achieved a direct hit. This is the first instance of the Ukrainian Air Force using airborne ammunition to strike a target inside Russia.
While damage assessment is still ongoing, "a direct hit has been confirmed," the anonymous source reported.
The “Ashes” Telegram channel previously reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces targeted an ammunition depot in the Rakityansky district of Belgorod, resulting in a fire and subsequent explosions.
A video published online captured the sounds of these explosions—see it here.
Official Responses
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, stated on his Telegram channel that the fire occurred in a non-residential building. He also confirmed that no injuries were reported.
"We are now transporting residents of nearby houses to a safe distance. The head of the Rakityansky district, Anatoly Klimov, and the operational services are on the spot," Gladkov said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the downing of drones over the Belgorod region at three different times: 13:40, 14:00, and 14:20 Moscow time. The ministry did not report any casualties or comment on the presence of Ukrainian aviation over the region.
The type of ammunition used in the strike has also not been specified.
However, Sky News noted that the United States and France have given Ukraine permission to use their weapons to target military objectives on Russian territory to protect Kharkiv.
