Damaging

Saboteurs attacked Russian air base, damaging two planes and a helicopter, Ukraine says

Olga Voitovych and Tim Lister

Saboteurs were responsible for an attack on an airfield near Moscow on Monday, according to Kyiv.

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence said Wednesday that "unknown saboteurs blew up two airplanes and a helicopter in the Moscow region."

The incident took place at the Chkalovsky air base some 30 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Moscow, according to Defense Intelligence.

"At the Chkalovsky airfield, a group of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is investigating the sabotage," it said.

"Unidentified persons planted explosives at the heavily guarded airfield and blew up AN-148 and IL-20 aircraft (both belonging to the 354th Special Forces regiment), as well as a MI-28N helicopter, which had previously been actively involved in shooting down attack drones over the Moscow region," Defense Intelligence claimed. 

"The damage to the aircraft will not allow (Russia) to count on their quick recovery," it added.

On Monday, some Russian media reported a fire in the vicinity of the base, without giving details.