Recent drone attacks have intensified, targeting key Russian military airfields and critical infrastructure, sparking widespread fires and raising concerns about the ongoing conflict’s reach and impact. Early Thursday morning, the Marinovka Air Base in Russia’s Volgograd region became the latest target in a series of drone strikes. Videos shared across Russian social media platforms captured the alarming scene, with flames and thick black smoke billowing from the airfield.
According to the Volgograd region’s governor, Andrey Bocharov, multiple drones were responsible for the attack on the Marinovka airfield. Although the drones were reportedly shot down, one of them fell, causing a significant fire at the site. The governor’s account was corroborated by videos showing the moment of the attack, featuring the sounds of gunfire followed by explosions near the air base.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing drone strikes on Russian military targets, particularly airfields. Last week, Ukraine conducted its largest drone attack since the war began, targeting multiple airfields in western Russia. In an unexpected move, Ukrainian forces appeared to extend their reach on Wednesday, attacking an airfield near Murmansk, deep within Russia’s northern territory and close to the Arctic Circle.
In addition to the airfield strikes, another significant incident occurred in Russia’s southern Rostov region, where a massive fire has been raging uncontrollably at a major fuel storage facility. This fire, ignited by a drone strike, has been burning for five days, with no signs of abating. Videos from the scene depict enormous clouds of black smoke and dramatic explosions as fuel tanks continue to ignite. Firefighters have been seen retreating rapidly as one of the tanks exploded, highlighting the severe danger posed by these ongoing drone attacks.
As these events unfold, the escalating use of drone technology in the conflict signals a new phase in the war, where critical infrastructure and military sites far beyond the immediate front lines are increasingly vulnerable to attack.