Ukraine has destroyed three Russian attack helicopters during a pre-dawn drone strike on a military airfield controlled by Russia.
The operation targeted Russian aircraft, air defence systems and storage facilities for ammunition and drones, according to Ukraine's security service.
Drones descended on Kirovske airfield in occupied Crimea on Saturday, laying waste to the choppers costing approximately $20million (£14.6million) each.
A Ukrainian official said: "Available data indicate the destruction of multi-purpose and attack helicopters Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28, as well as the self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun complex Pantsir-S1."
Ukraine has claimed the destruction of three Russian attack helicopters during a pre-dawn drone strike on the Kirovske airfield in occupied Crimea on Saturday
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The Kyiv Independent reported that secondary explosions were heard at the airfield throughout the night.
The strike represents Ukraine's latest effort to degrade Russian air power through long-range drone operations deep behind enemy lines.
Russia's defence ministry claimed to have shot down more than 40 Ukrainian drones over western Russia and occupied Crimea on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Earlier this month, nearly a third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet was destroyed or damaged in a covert operation using cheaply-made drones that had been smuggled into Russian territory.
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Russian drones struck a residential tower in the southern port city of Odesa
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On Friday, Ukrainian drones also struck four Su-34 fighter jets at the Marinovka airfield in Russia's Volgograd Oblast, with reports indicating two jets were destroyed.
Despite these tactical successes, Ukraine continues to face challenges from Russian advances on the battlefield and increasing aerial attacks, whilst diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled.
Last night, Russian drones struck a residential tower in the southern port city of Odesa, killing a married couple and injuring at least 17 others, including three children, Ukrainian officials said.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported on Thursday that short-range drone attacks have killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 since the war began in February 2022.
Poland's outgoing president Andrzej Duda visited Ukraine on Saturday
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Nearly 90 per cent of those strikes were carried out by Russian forces.
Poland's outgoing President Andrzej Duda visited Ukraine on Saturday and urged patience during the transition to his nationalist successor Karol Nawrocki, who has criticised Ukraine and opposed Kyiv's entry into Nato.
"Please be patient," Duda told reporters at a press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky.
He added: "The world looks different from behind the presidential desk, slightly different from what it looks like to a candidate in elections."
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