Ukrainian drones strike Russian helicopters at Taganrog airbase near Ukraine border

Ukrainian drones struck Russian Mi-35 and Mi-8 helicopters at the Taganrog-Central airfield in Rostov Oblast, located about 40 kilometers from Ukraine's border. The attack occurred overnight on September 7, destroying one Mi-8 and damaging one Mi-35, according to satellite imagery analysis. The airbase hosts Russia's 325th aircraft repair plant, which services Il-76 transport planes. The strike followed a September 6 Ukrainian attack on the Rostov-on-Don airfield in the same region, part of broader Ukrainian drone operations targeting multiple Russian regions. That same evening, Ukrainian forces hit primary oil refining units at the Ryazan refinery, affecting over 77% of its capacity, and launched hundreds of drones across 14 Russian oblasts without striking Moscow. Earlier, Ukrainian forces also targeted a Russian MESH relay, radar, and electronic warfare systems.