In the morning of August 19, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Kiev regime targeted a military airspace in the Novgorod region with a helicopter type unmanned aerial vehicle. The drone was spotted at the airport and brought down with small arms fire. The ministry said a fire in the aircraft parking area was quickly extinguished by firefighters, and one plane sustained damage in the incident. The agency framed it as a terrorist attack on the airspace.
The situation in the Novgorod region
District Governor Andrey Nikitin confirmed the attack on Soltsy airport at 10:00. He stated that conditions in the region remained calm and under control, with all necessary security measures in place. The official added confidence that Ukrainian actions would be addressed in kind and with accountability.
The mayor of Solets, Maxim Timofeev, reported that all measures to neutralize the drone’s consequences were finished. He noted that civilian life and infrastructure were safe, and that all organizations continued normal operations. This update came through the city telegraph channel.
UAVs can be launched from Russian territory
A military expert speaking with the retired colonel Yuri Knutov of Lentoy ru asserted that the helicopter drone appeared to be launched from Russian soil. The expert described these UAVs as having a short flight range and primarily performing reconnaissance, with operators using cameras to guide attacks. He explained that the craft have limited endurance, can carry up to three anti armor munitions, and can strike armored targets from above. He cautioned that there is no strong evidence indicating Ukrainian drones routinely fly from Ukrainian airspace into the Novgorod region. The expert also suggested that Kiev might develop a helicopter drone variant, but noted that such a move would be less practical given that Ukrainian security services already possess aircraft type drones.
Second attack of the day
Later on the afternoon of August 19, the military department reported that an aircraft type UAV was suppressed over Krasnogorsk in the Moscow region. The air defense team detected the drone promptly, used electronic warfare to disrupt control, and it crashed in an unpopulated area near the settlement of Putilkovo in the Krasnogorsk district. This account emphasizes the ongoing threat landscape and the readiness of defense capabilities.