Ukraine’s military said it carried out a successful airstrike on a drone launch facility in Russia’s Kursk region over the weekend, in what it called a direct response to ongoing drone attacks on Ukrainian territory.
In a statement released Monday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said the strike took place on Saturday near the village of Tetkino, close to the border with Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.
According to the statement, the targeted site was being used by Russian forces to launch various types of drones into Ukraine. The military claims that up to 20 Russian drone operators were killed in the attack.
“This strike of ours is a tangible response to the enemy’s actions against the Ukrainian army,” the statement read, emphasizing Ukraine’s continued resolve to degrade Russia’s military infrastructure.
No Immediate Comment from Russia
As of Monday, Russian authorities had not publicly responded to the claim, and the figures provided by Ukraine could not be independently verified.
The village of Tetkino, previously the site of cross-border skirmishes, lies within the Kursk region, which has seen repeated attacks and sabotage incidents since the full-scale war began in February 2022. Ukraine launched a brief incursion into the region last August.
Broader Strategy and Message
Ukraine’s military said it would continue to target Russian military assets “until a just peace” is achieved, underscoring its strategy of striking across the border in retaliation for drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The strike also comes amid increased international calls to de-escalate the war. Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Ukraine and Russia would “make a deal this week,” although no formal negotiations have been announced. The U.S. State Department has reiterated its support for a “full and comprehensive ceasefire.”
