Ukraine's military intelligence chief has confirmed that the drone assault on a Pskov airbase in Russia on Tuesday originated from within Russian territory.
Kyrylo Budanov has disclosed that two Ilyushin cargo planes were destroyed and two others were damaged, while Russia claims that four were affected.
However, Budanov did not specify whether the attack was carried out by Ukrainian or Russian operatives.
Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia have become a near-daily occurrence, and they had previously acknowledged their involvement in the Pskov attack.
Nevertheless, Budanov's remarks seem to put an end to speculation regarding the use of long-range weaponry.
On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky had stated that a Ukrainian-made weapon had successfully struck a target at a distance of 700km. Pskov is located nearly 700km (434 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
"We are operating from within Russian territory," Budanov told the War Zone website on Thursday, although he did not disclose the specific type or quantity of drones employed.
He also mentioned that the drones specifically targeted the upper sections of the aircraft, which house the fuel tanks and a critical section of the wing spar.
The affected aircraft are long-range cargo planes, which are highly valuable assets for Russia due to their suitability for transporting troops and equipment over extensive distances.
Typically, Ukrainian authorities remain discreet regarding attacks carried out inside Russian territory, according to BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Adams. However, it appears that as the conflict intensifies, officials in Kyiv are becoming increasingly open about acknowledging such actions as integral to their country's war efforts.
Meanwhile, drone strikes persisted across several locations in Russia overnight from Thursday to Friday.
Unverified reports suggest that a factory involved in the production of electronic components for rockets, located in the town of Lyubertsy just outside Moscow, may have been targeted.
However, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated via his Telegram channel that the drones flying over Lyubertsy were successfully intercepted, causing no harm or casualties.
Similar to previous incidents in the Moscow region, several flights departing from Moscow airports experienced delays or cancellations on Friday morning.
In the town of Kurchatov, near the Kursk nuclear plant, Kursk Region Governor Roman Starovoyt reported that one residential and one administrative building had been struck.
Ukraine continues its counter-offensive operations within Russian-occupied territories.
The Institute for the Study of War noted advancements on Thursday, particularly near Bakhmut in the east and in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region.
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