Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian military airbase behind ballistic missile attacks as rockets target Samara

Ukrainian forces launched a strike on Russia's Savasleyka military airbase on Aug. 15, targeting Mig-31 fighter jets that are capable of launching Kinzhal ballistic missiles, according to monitoring channels. The airbase is located in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and houses a significant number of these missiles. Fires were reported in the area following the explosions, as noted by the Exilenova Plus monitoring channel.

Additional explosions were also reported in the Russian city of Samara, with Ukrainian Flamingo missiles being attributed to the attack by Suparnova Plus channel. However, it remains unclear which specific target in Samara was struck. Samara is approximately 800 kilometers away from Ukraine's border with Russia, while the Savasleyka military airbase is about 660 kilometers away.

The veracity of these reports has not been immediately confirmed by the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has a history of striking military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories in an attempt to weaken Moscow's capacity to continue its war efforts. On Aug. 14, Ukrainian forces targeted the Ust-Luga port in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, causing damage to two processing plants and igniting a fire.

The port is one of Russia's largest on the Baltic Sea and houses an oil terminal that serves as a major hub for crude oil and petroleum product exports. The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery complex in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan was also struck by Ukrainian forces the night prior on Aug. 13.