Update (2111 EST): Russian military bloggers are reporting that the explosion occurred near the headquarters of the Russian Southern Military District on Budonnovisky Porspekt, one block over from Pushkinskaya Ulitsa.
At approximately 2035 EST, initial reports indicated a large explosion and car fire of Pushkin street, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation. By 2100 EST, civilians began publishing accounts of air defense activation and a failed intercept of a loitering munition.
Moments ago, Russian bloggers announced that air defenses in Rostov-on-Don, the capital of the Southern Military District failed to intercept a loitering munition which struck near a military recruitment office. pic.twitter.com/4Twsko4KMs
— Tessaron News (@TessaronF) September 7, 2023
Ukrainian MP Goncharenko posted a cryptic TG message saying “Rostov-dont sleep, especially near military buildings.” The explosion was confirmed on Pushkinskaya Ulitsa near a military recruitment facility. Rostov-on-Don serves as the headquarters for the Russian Southern Military District and was the scene of a dramatic Wagner Group coup months ago. This supposed strike is the deepest into Southern Russia that Ukraine would have struck if it is confirmed their doing. The second deepest strike was at a Russian airfield in Taganrog several months ago at a Long Range Aviation airfield.
As of this publication, Rostov Oblast Governor Golubev confirmed on TG that Russian air defenses did attempt to intercept a drone, but failed, all but confirming Ukrainian actions.
This is developing.
