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Pskov: True Russian Reality Show
Night Drone Attack Deep Inside Russia
In northwest Russia, about 700 km (435 miles) from Ukraine, a huge fire broke out at a military airfield in the city of Pskov, where elite paratroopers are based. Pskov airbase is used by the 76th Guards Air Assault Division and is an important part of the Russian military infrastructure. Russian media and Telegram channels reported that at least four giant Ilyushin IL-76 transport planes were damaged, two of which “burst into flames.”
The governor of Pskov posted a video on Telegram showing a huge fire with the sound of sirens and an explosion at the airbase. Numerous videos posted online by eyewitnesses showed anti-aircraft systems in action around the city, which is just 40 km (25 miles) east of Russia’s border with NATO member Estonia.
Pskov is not often on the front pages of the world media. It is one of the oldest cities in Russia, popular with tourists and at the same time a deep cultural province. It is located far away from two Russian political and economic centers — Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, Pskov is also an outpost of Russia in the West. The distance from the city to Estonia, a NATO country, is only about 40 kilometers. The Pskov region also borders Latvia and Belarus to the south and southwest. Pskov is home to the 76th airborne troops division, famous…