Ukrainian forces strike Russia's Lipetsk, igniting blaze at military airfield

A massive attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has led to a significant fire at a military airfield in Russia's Lipetsk region, with dramatic footage of the blaze circulating online.

The video, shared by the Telegram channel Mash, shows intense flames lighting up the night sky, indicating the scale of the destruction, Caliber.Az reports.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the fire at the military airfield during the early hours of August 9 but did not provide further details at the time. The attack triggered alarms in Lipetsk and the surrounding areas, with authorities warning of potential unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threats.

Later that night, the region's administrative centre was heavily targeted by Ukrainian drones, resulting in damage to a local power facility. Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov reported that the region experienced power supply disruptions due to the attack.

In response to the escalating situation, an emergency regime was declared in the municipality at around 4:44 a.m. Evacuation orders were issued for several settlements, including Fedorovka, Tynkovka, Koptsevy Khutora, and Yakovlevka. Additionally, transport services in the city of Lipetsk were temporarily suspended as the authorities managed the crisis.