Drone attack hits Russian Akhtubinsk air base in Astrakhan region
Drones attacked the military Akhtubinsk air base in Russia's Astrakhan region overnight, OSINT analysts reported. Exilenova+ analysts said at least 30 explosions were heard and that hits were recorded on airfield infrastructure, aircraft parking areas and ammunition depots. Ukraine's General Staff did not officially comment, while the regional governor said 31 drones were downed.
Key points
- At least about 30 explosions were heard near Akhtubinsk air base overnight, OSINT analysts reported.
- Analysts said hits were recorded on airfield infrastructure, fighter aircraft parking areas, ammunition depots and other facilities.
- The Astrakhan regional governor said 31 drones were shot down in the north of the region overnight.
- Akhtubinsk is home to Russia's 929th State Flight Test Centre and lies roughly 650 km from the front line.
- Russia uses the base to house Su-34 aircraft employed in strikes with guided bombs against Ukraine.
- A previous attack on 20 August 2025 damaged a Su-34 at the air base.
- Ukraine's General Staff did not officially comment on the reported attack.
Why it matters
Akhtubinsk is used to base Su-34 aircraft that carry out strikes with guided bombs against Ukraine, and the air base is about 650 km behind the front line. If the reported hits on parking areas and ammunition depots are confirmed, they could affect Russia's capacity to conduct such strikes.
What happened
Drones attacked the military Akhtubinsk air base in Russia's Astrakhan region overnight, the Ukrainian OSINT channel Exilenova+ reported. According to the analysts, at least 30 explosions were heard and footage appears to show a fire, probable detonation of ammunition and impacts on airfield facilities. The targets reportedly included airfield infrastructure, areas where combat aircraft were parked, ammunition depots and other objects. The Astrakhan regional governor, Igor Babushkin, said 31 drones had been downed in the north of the region overnight. Ukraine's General Staff did not officially comment on the attack.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All three Ukrainian media sources relied on Exilenova+ and focused on the location of the attack, damage to facilities and the probable detonation of ammunition. They stressed the air base's military role in housing Su-34 aircraft used to strike Ukraine, and noted that the General Staff did not officially comment on the attack.
Where reporting differs
Ukraine's General Staff did not officially comment on the attack, while OSINT analysts reported hits, fires, probable ammunition detonations and at least 30 explosions. The governor of Astrakhan region said only that 31 drones had been shot down.
Background
Akhtubinsk air base hosts Russia's 929th State Flight Test Centre. A previous attack on the base on 20 August 2025 damaged a Su-34. In October 2025, Neptune missiles struck Marinovka air base in Volgograd region, destroying two Su-34 aircraft. On 15 November 2025, drones also hit the Nizhnekamskneftekhim petrochemical complex in Tatarstan, one of Russia's and Europe's largest facilities of its kind.