Budanov confirms: At least 70 drones used in attack on Russian air base Morozovsk

The Morozovsk airfield in Russia’s Rostov Oblast was attacked by at least 70 drones on June 13, the media company War Zone reported on June 14, citing the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov.

The governor of Rostov Oblast, Vasily Golubev, said the day before that Russian air defense units had been subjected to a “mass attack” by drones, which had caused a fire and disruptions to the local power supply.

The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently announced that 70 drones had been shot down over the oblast.

Budanov said he was “waiting for information” on the extent of the damage to the airfield, where satellite imagery showed Su-34 fighter jets were stationed.

The War Zone republished satellite images from Planet Labs showing both jets at the airfield before the attack and some later evidence of the damage caused.

While Russian Telegram channels acknowledged that an attack on the airbase had taken place, some claimed that all the drones had been shot down, while others claimed that some had hit the airbase, possibly killing up to six pilots.

The allegations could not be independently verified and Budanov did not comment on possible victims.

It was not the first reported attack on the Morozovsk air base, which is located about 180 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Sources confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that drone attacks on the air base took place in April during a joint operation by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian military.

At least six military aircraft were destroyed and eight others damaged, the source said. In addition, about 20 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the information.

When asked whether Ukraine was planning another attack on the air base, Budanov answered “yes.”

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