Ukrainian drones targeted a major Russian military airfield in a massive attack on Monday night.
Eight UAVS were reportedly shot down over the Millerovo airbase, while another nine were downed over the Rostov region, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.
Rostov’s interim governor claimed there were no reports on casualties in a post to his Telegram channel.
“There were no injuries, information about the consequences on the ground is being clarified,” he said.
“The threat of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Rostov region remains.”
Video footage of the attack shows a huge explosion and flash of orange light lighting up the night’s sky.
Further images show Russian defence systems firing drones at the incoming drones, whose distinctive buzzing noise can be heard.
Eyewitnesses reported fires breaking out in the town of Millerovo as a result of the attack.
The building of the Millerovo Cossack Cadet Professional College was also damaged and students were evacuated from their dormitories.
Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian defence expert, noted that the Millerovo airfield is frequently used to launch airstrikes on Ukraine.
The head of National Security and Defence Council said: “For Russia, it is a strategic airfield in the Rostov region.
“It serves as a base for frontline aviation, which carries out tasks to support the Russian infantry operating in the east and south of Ukraine.”
The air base is located just four kilometres from Millerovo town and was targeted over the weekend.
There were also unconfirmed reports that another military airfield in Morozovsk was also hit overnight.
The Rostov region has come under sustained aerial attack from both Ukrainian drones and missiles.
On Sunday at least 4 drones struck the Kadamovsky military training ground in the Persianovsky village of Novocherkassk.
As a result of the attack, a fire and detonation started in an ammunition warehouse at the training ground.
