Ukraine claims it destroyed 6 Russian fighter jets

Ukraine claimed to have destroyed six Russian planes at an airbase in Rostov region of southern Russia during a drone attack carried out on Friday (April 5).

Eight more Ukrainian aircraft were badly damaged, while 20 service personnel could have been killed or injured, according to security sources.

The Morozovsk base houses Su-27 and Su-34 aircraft used on the front line in Ukraine, the sources said.

There has been no word from Russia on reports of an airfield attack.

The BBC has been unable to independently verify the reports.

However, Russian officials said that more than 40 drones had been aimed at the region, which borders Ukraine.

BBC Russian military analyst Pavel Aksyonov says an attack by so many drones over a short space of time could have overwhelmed air defences.

Meanwhile, four people were killed and over 20 wounded in Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials said.

The eastern city of Kharkiv also came under air attack, with local authorities reporting two deaths from the Russian bombardment.