Ukrainian forces launched a night attack on the outskirts of the Kursk airfield on July 31, utilizing newly developed cruise missiles. The strike resulted in fires at several key Russian military facilities.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that the Defense Forces of Ukraine targeted storage sites for Russian military equipment and weaponry near the city of Kursk. The attack reportedly employed the latest Ukrainian-made Neptune cruise missiles, specifically modified for land strikes. These missiles hit targets approximately 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
“During the night of July 31, our forces conducted a precision strike on a storage facility for Russian military equipment and weaponry near Kursk,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated.
Sources claim that the strike successfully destroyed an aviation ammunition depot near the Khalino airfield (military unit 75079) and a base belonging to the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense (military unit 42699). Following the attack, significant fires were reported at these locations.
This attack highlights the advancement and deployment of the Neptune missile system, which Ukraine has been developing to extend its strike capabilities beyond anti-ship missions. Russian sources also confirmed that Neptune-MD missiles, in their ground attack configuration, were used in the strike.
Despite the clear evidence of damage, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued an official press release denying any significant impact on their military facilities, claiming that the missiles were intercepted.
The strike on Kursk demonstrates Ukraine’s growing capability to conduct precision strikes deep within Russian-controlled territory.