Fact Check: "A series of explosions and a Russian air defence response were reported near the targeted facilities on the night of 13-14 June 2023."
What We Know
On the night of June 13-14, 2023, a significant military engagement occurred involving both Ukrainian and Russian forces. Reports indicate that Ukraine launched drone strikes targeting Russian military facilities, specifically the Russian defense industrial base, which resulted in explosions in those areas (source-5). Concurrently, Russia conducted its own aerial operations, deploying 58 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in an attack on Ukraine, with Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepting a substantial number of these drones (source-6).
Analysis
The claim that "a series of explosions and a Russian air defence response were reported near the targeted facilities" is misleading. While there were indeed explosions due to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian facilities, the assertion that these were specifically Russian air defense responses is not substantiated by credible sources. The reports primarily focus on Ukrainian offensive actions rather than detailing a defensive response from Russia during that specific timeframe.
The reliability of the sources discussing these events varies. The reports from Yahoo News (source-5 and source-6) are based on military updates and provide a clear account of the actions taken by both sides. However, they do not confirm the nature of the explosions as a direct response from Russian air defenses.
Furthermore, while there were air defense activities reported in the context of ongoing military operations, the specific claim regarding a "Russian air defence response" to explosions near targeted facilities lacks direct evidence from the cited sources.
Conclusion
The claim that "a series of explosions and a Russian air defence response were reported near the targeted facilities on the night of 13-14 June 2023" is False. The evidence indicates that while there were explosions from Ukrainian drone strikes, there is no substantiated report of a Russian air defense response occurring in conjunction with these events. The narrative appears to conflate offensive actions with defensive responses without clear evidence to support such a connection.
Sources
- 'Massive' Russian strike days after air base attacks - BBC
- Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites and kills top generals - AP News
- Iranian missiles target Israel in retaliation for earlier strikes - Washington Post
- Iran hits Israel with a second wave of missiles - AP News
- Ukrainian Armed Forces drones hit two Russian defence - Yahoo News
- Russia attacks Ukraine with 58 UAVs: hits recorded in nine - Yahoo News
- Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot - Kyiv Independent
- Ukrainian drones strike targets in Russia, including - Kyiv Independent
