Ukraine Hammers Two Russian Airfields in One Night, Triggering Fires and Ammunition Blasts

Ukrainian forces struck two Russian military aviation sites overnight on August 30, hitting the Yeysk airfield in Krasnodar Krai and a facility used to store, prepare and launch attack drones in Millerovo in the Rostov region, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on August 30.

Fires were recorded at both locations following the strikes.

At Yeysk, footage published by the OSINT community Exilenova+ showed a large fire inside the military airfield as secondary explosions consistent with detonating ammunition could be heard.

NASA’s FIRMS satellite fire-monitoring system also detected a blaze at the facility at around 4:02 am local time. Satellite data indicated that the affected area extended from the aircraft parking section toward the runway.

A drone warning had been issued across the region at approximately 2:58 am, including for the city of Yeysk. The alert remained active until 5:33 am, lasting roughly three hours.

Ukraine’s General Staff subsequently confirmed that the Yeysk military airfield had been hit and that a fire broke out on the site.

The Russian military uses Yeysk to support aviation operations, including aircraft capable of launching missiles and guided aerial bombs against Ukraine.

The base also hosts Russia’s 859th Center for Combat Application and Retraining of Naval Aviation Flight Personnel, making it an important training and support facility for Russian naval aviation.

Another distinctive feature of Yeysk is its NITKA ground-based aviation training complex, which replicates an aircraft carrier’s flight deck and landing systems. Russian naval aviators use the facility to practice carrier takeoffs and landings without operating at sea.

Repeated Ukrainian attacks have made Yeysk increasingly vulnerable, and Russian forces do not appear to station combat aircraft there permanently. However, aircraft can still be temporarily redeployed to the base ahead of operations.

Ukraine simultaneously struck a Russian drone operations facility in Millerovo, roughly 170 kilometers, or 105 miles, from the front line.

The General Staff said the target was used for the storage, preparation, and launch of Russian attack UAVs. A fire was recorded following the strike.

NASA FIRMS detected a fire in the Millerovo area at approximately 3:33 am local time after drone warnings were issued shortly after midnight.

The Millerovo military airfield is associated with Russia’s 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment, which operates Su-30SM multirole fighters.

The site has repeatedly come under Ukrainian attack because of its proximity to Ukraine and its role in supporting Russian military aviation and drone operations.

Russian forces also use infrastructure in the area to store ammunition, house personnel and maintain fuel and lubricant supplies.

Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar acknowledged a drone attack on Millerovo but did not publicly mention the military facility or the fire there.

Previously, Ukrainian drones struck a Russian Nebo-U radar station at the Millerovo military airfield in Russia’s Rostov region, a facility used to launch Shahed drones and other UAVs against Ukraine.

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