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Russian pro-war military bloggers report pilots killed during Ukrainian drone attack on Leningrad region
Russian military aviation Telegram channels reported that pilots were killed while defending the skies over the Leningrad region during a Ukrainian drone attack. The reports have not been confirmed by Russian authorities, leaving the circumstances and number of pilots unclear.
The Fighterbomber channel, run by blogger Ilya Tumanov, said the air defence had “cost us very dearly” but gave no details. Another channel, Na predele (“On the Edge”), also reported deaths and posted a photograph of a Ka-52 helicopter. Officials have said the attack on Ust-Luga injured three port workers.
In short
- Military aviation channels reported pilots killed during a drone attack.
- Russian authorities have not confirmed the deaths.
- Officials said three port workers were injured at Ust-Luga.
Explained simply
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and both countries have since used drones and air defences in the conflict. The Leningrad region, in north-west Russia, includes the important Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga.
Fighterbomber and Na predele are Russian military aviation channels on Telegram, a messaging platform. Their reports about pilots’ deaths have not been confirmed by Russian officials, so the number of people killed and the circumstances remain unclear.
Ust-Luga handles cargo and fuel, making attacks there relevant to shipping and Russia’s trade. Reports of military losses can also offer a glimpse of the risks faced by air crews, but accounts from unofficial channels may be incomplete.
Europe Russia-Ukraine War World