Ukraine’s SBU Strikes Russian Field Camps in Kursk Region, Rocking Nearby Villages

A source from Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has confirmed that it had conducted at least 18 drone strikes on Russian field camps near the “Khalino” military airfield in the early hours of Oct. 18.

The drones hit military field camps near the village of Postoyalye Dvory, located approximately 110 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

According to a source in the SBU, up to 3,000 Russian soldiers and about 80 units of military equipment are believed to be stationed in the area.

“Currently, the exact number of enemy casualties is being clarified, but it is clear that the damage was powerful – at least 18 SBU drone hits on the camp were recorded,” they added.

“Throughout the night, Russians from the surrounding villages discussed the sounds of explosions on social networks.”

Video of tonight’s drone attack on Russian Khalino airbase in Kursk. As claimed 18 drones targeted the area of military camp located near the airbase. https://t.co/o1UrMOKUPH pic.twitter.com/OpZl2ghw0J
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 18, 2023

It is not known if the drones were launched from Ukrainian territories.

The military camps are located in close proximity to the “Khalino” airfield, which has been a target for Ukrainian forces in previous drone attacks.

The Kursk region, bordering Ukraine, has been a frequent target for Ukrainian security forces and local partisans to disrupt Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army has been utilizing drones — both hobby-level and industrial models — in the ongoing war with Russia. A recent video has shown Ukrainian forces hunting down a Russian soldier with a drone.

On Oct. 10, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced plans to support Ukraine’s domestic military-industrial complex and drone production capabilities.

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“We have removed bureaucratic obstacles for the procurement of Ukrainian drones," said Shmyhal in an official statement. The Ukrainian government has allocated Hr.56 billion to drone production in its 2024 defense budget.

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Leo Chiu

Leo Chiu is a news reporter residing in Eastern Europe since 2015 with a profound interest in geopolitics, having witnessed two presidential elections in Belarus and visited numerous contested regions worldwide. He believes in the human side of journalism and that there's a story to be told behind every number and statistic.

Maryna Shashkova

Ukrainian journalist. Senior Corespondent at Kyiv Post. I have been working as a journalist for almost 10 years. I write about Ukrainian politics and social issues.