The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the destruction and interception of 33 drones over the territories of Lipetsk, Rostov and Volgograd regions by air defense forces on the night of December 17.
The target of at least some of them was most likely a military airfield near Morozovsk, Rostov region, the newspaper Astra said .
Russian publics published videos of drones being shot down on their approach to the airport. The 559th Bombardment Guards Regiment is stationed there, and frontline bombers Su-24, Su-24M, and Su-34 are stationed there.
Residents of Morozovsk wrote on social media that the sounds of explosions began in the morning, at 04:20.
The governor of Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, said that drones were shot down not only near Morozovsk, but also near Kamensk-Shakhtynsky (closer to the border with Ukraine). He said the attack was carried out by airplane-type drones and “most of the drones were destroyed.” He also wrote about the absence of victims.
