The Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukraine used drones to attack two Russian military airfields.
In a statement carried on the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the ministry said the attacks on Monday (Tuesday AEST) were “in the Saratov and Ryazan regions” but had been intercepted by air defences.
“On the morning of December 5, the Kiev regime, in order to disable Russian long-range aircraft, attempted to strike with Soviet-made jet unmanned aerial vehicles [drones] at the Diaghilevo military airfields in the Ryazan region and Engels in the Saratov region,” the report said.
“The air defence of the Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted these Ukrainian drones flying at low altitude,” the Ministry added.
Ukraine has not confirmed that it attacked either airfield.
Recent satellite imagery shows a substantial number of Russian strategic bombers at the Engels airbase in Saratov.
“Three Russian soldiers were killed, four more were injured in the attack.”
“As a result of the fall and explosion at the Russian airfields of the wreckage of [the] jet drones, the skin of two aircraft was slightly damaged,” it said.
Russia has launched about 70 missiles on Ukrainian cities in a new wave of attacks. (Getty)
Meanwhile, several regions of Ukraine have reported interruptions to power and water supplies amid freezing temperatures after about 70 Russian missiles were fired at targets across the country.
The Ukrainian Air Force said the great majority of missiles were intercepted, but some appear to have reached their targets.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia “tried to implement its criminal plan — to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold. The enemy once again failed in its plan.”
“The country’s energy system is functioning and remains intact,” Shmyhal added. But he said there were “hits to power facilities in Kyiv region, Vinnytsia region and Odesa region.
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In some regions, emergency shutdowns were forced to balance the system and avoid accidents. Rescuers are already working to eliminate the consequences of the attack.”
Kyiv residents shelter in the city’s metro station as Russia launched a new wave of missile attacks.
The attacks came as western countries began imposing a price cap on Russian oil aimed at putting pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
G7 countries and its allies including Australia have imposed a price cap of US$60 a barrel for crude oil to stop Russia from profiting as much as it has been on its oil exports.
Russia building huge army base in captured city.
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