Ukraine's attack on the Russian Aviation Training Center for pilots Borisoglebsk, Voronezh region, saw drones hit a target just miles from a secret Russian nuclear storage facility.
The Chkalov aviation training center is located less than 11 kilometers (just under 7 miles) from the closed military city of Voronezh-45, where Russian nuclear weapons are stored, Russian independent news agency Agentstvo reported on Telegram.
The latest attack further exposes the risks and dangers associated with Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil, which began shortly after Russia began the invasion and have been growing in range and scope in recent months.
Newsweek reached out to Russian and Ukrainian Defense Ministries for comment.
Multiple videos emerged on Tuesday showing a massive explosion hit the area where the pilot training hub is located, with damage to production facilities confirmed by a Ukrainian official.
"We will not disclose the details, but according to preliminary information, the main production facilities of the enterprise were damaged," Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) representative Andriy Yusov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement shortly after claiming that two enemy drones were destroyed by air defenses in the Voronezh region.
The aviation center attacked by drones is located on Narodnaya Street, which is less than 7 miles away from Voronezh-45, which is home to one of Russia's 12 known nuclear weapons storage facilities, according to United Nations data.
The site previously attracted media attention in June 2023, when it was reportedly approached by Wagner troops en route to Moscow during Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny.
Ukraine's head of military intelligence, commenting on the events in July 2023, claimed, without offering evidence, that Wagner Group mercenaries tried to acquire nuclear devices during their brief rebellion against Russia's military establishment.
"If you are prepared to fight until the last man standing, this is one of the facilities that significantly raises the stakes," Budanov said in an interview with Reuters.
During the mutiny, Wagner's military vehicles diverted east from its path to Moscow and headed towards Voronezh-25, as evidenced by videos posted online and interviews with local residents in Russian media outlets.
Wagner mercenaries reportedly reached the town of Talovaya where they fought with the Russian military, shooting down a Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter.
Ukraine has ramped up painful drone and sabotage attacks on Russian military sites, refineries and manufacturing in 2024, with recent successful strikes recorded as far as 800 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Dozens of Russia's strategically important facilities and oil plants appear to be within reach for Ukraine, with Kyiv touting imminent plans for mass-producing new drones with even longer ranges, potentially exceeding 1800 miles.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Yevgeny Kuklychev is Newsweek's London-based Senior Editor for Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. He previously headed Newsweek's Misinformation Watch and ... Read more
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