Powerful explosions were heard in the suburbs of occupied Mariupol and near the airport.

Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, stated that Russian air defense could not prevent the strikes.

“Even the leaky air defenses did not help. Despite the attempt, ours are reporting strikes between the village of Ahrobaza (which actually borders the city) and the city,” the mayor’s adviser said.

After these explosions, there were reported strikes in the airport area.

Local residents released a series of videos featuring powerful explosions.

Russian sources report that four unidentified missiles allegedly incomed.

A few hours before, Petro Andriushchenko reported that Russia was moving helicopters from Berdyansk to Mariupol.

“A typical movement of helicopters from Berdyansk to Mariupol. Not a return after the attack, just moving the helicopters,” said the mayor’s adviser a few hours before the attack.

Presumably, the Russian aircraft were moved to the area of the airport where the strike was carried out.

As previously reported, the UK has confirmed the supply of Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine. The declared operational range of this cruise missile is more than 250 km.

“All I can say is that, as far as I understand, they (Storm Shadow missiles – ed.) were used after we announced their delivery to Ukraine. But I’m not going to go into further details,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said recently.

Wallace also added that the weapons systems provided to Ukraine by Western allies were “powerful” and “important.”