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Murmansk hit by drones for two days and St. Petersburg area may also be targeted
Nation12 September 2024, 03:16 PM
For two days, Russians have reported drone attacks on the Murmansk Oblast, home to the Olenya military airfield with Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers, according to Oleksandr Musienko, head of the Center for Military and Legal Research on Sept. 12.
Musienko said the drone strikes on Russia's Olenya military airfield are part of ongoing efforts to target strategic Russian sites and reduce their missile strike capabilities.
He noted that this operation exploits a "gap in the air defense system," as Finnish intelligence had reported a lack of Russian troops in the area, leaving an open corridor.
Musienko also suggested this could extend to military facilities in Leningrad Oblast and around St. Petersburg.
On Sept. 11, Russia reported a drone attack in Murmansk Oblast, with the governor claiming air defenses shot down three UAVs. Murmansk is 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine's border.