16 January 2024 , 07:41
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Russia today declared a state of emergency in its border city Voronezh after a spate of kamikaze drone attacks aimed at a key Putin airbase.
At least 16 explosions were heard overnight with an apartment building hit after air defences reportedly shot down or electronically intercepted the incoming UAVs.
Video shows how a fire ignited on the upper floor of an apartment near the base. A frightened female voice was heard saying: “Mother of God, we’ve got to get the hell out of it.”
Voronezh is capital of a region which borders Russian-occupied regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Su-34s bombers - deployed against Ukraine - are based at the nearby Baltimore air base.
Shot media reported: “One of the targets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces drones could be the Baltimore airfield. It is located next to Teplichnaya Street, where the drone’s debris [fell]."
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Drone attacks have caused carnage in Voronezh (social media/e2w)Russia did not admit to any damage at the air base, and as yet there is no independent verification. There were two phases to the strikes - at 2am and 5am.
Mayor of Voronezh, Vadim Kstenin, said: “People were evacuated, a nearby school was opened for them so that they could warm up. All services are in place and working.
"I ask everyone not to touch and not to approach the [drone] debris and fragments. We will repair the damage, and give people the opportunity to return home as soon as possible.”
A 10-year-old girl sustained cut wounds to her arm, leg and neck. Windows were smashed in several apartment blocks near the air base.
Voronezh was bombed several times overnight (social media/e2w)
A fire ignited on the upper floor of an apartment (social media/e2w)Officials later said 35 apartments in three 10-story buildings were damaged by falling debris from the drones. The Russian defence ministry claimed to have shot down five aircraft-type drones, and intercepted another three. Another four were reportedly intercepted over the Belgorod border region.
"An attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles has been repelled over Voronezh by air defence forces on duty," said regional governor Alexander Gusev. "A fire on a balcony was extinguished in one apartment block. Windows were broken in two more apartment blocks and a number of private houses. Operational services are already working on the ground.” Voronezh, a city of more than one million people, lies some 155 miles from the border with Ukraine.
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