Ukrainian attacks this week targeted a portion of the flightline at Belbek Air Base where Russian MiG-31 interceptors regularly park.
Satellite imagery confirms that a portion of the flightline and adjacent areas at Russia’s Belbek Air Base on the occupied Crimean peninsula were damaged in Ukrainian strikes this week. Russian MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors were observed in the same area of the installation just two weeks ago. Other parts of the base sustained damage, as well.
Ukraine’s recent attacks on Belbek, at least one of which occurred on the night of May 14-15, and another of which may have come last night, are already known to have destroyed portions of an S-300 or S-400 air defense system. They look to have involved, at least in part, the use of U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles. You can read more in The War Zone‘s initial reporting here.
A low-resolution satellite image of Belbek taken earlier today that The War Zone obtained from Planet Labs clearly shows at least two large scorched areas on a section of the primary flightline located in the central area of the base. A pair of MiG-31s were seen at the same spots in a previous satellite image of the base shot on May 1st and the Foxhounds are regularly observed parked in this area.
The image also shows another facility directly adjacent to the flightline was hit. This appears to be an ammo dump of some kind.
The S-300/S-400 that was struck in the attacks, including what looked to be a 92N6 ‘Grave Stone’ radar that was destroyed, does not show up in the low-resolution imagery, which is not surprising. The level of detail offered by this type of image makes only very large changes to the area being examined easy to decipher. The use of cluster munitions can result in damage to equipment that would not even show up on high-resolution satellite images. As such, we need to be cautious as to the interpretation of the low-resolution images.
A separate partial high-resolution image of Belbek from Planet Labs, also taken today, appears to show one revetment where fighter aircraft park has been severely charred or is filled with a burned-out material, such as an aircraft. Su-35S and Su-30SM Flanker fighters and Su-34 Fullback combat jets have been observed at the base in the past, but are also regularly moved around between different revetments and aprons in order to complicate targeting of potential Ukrainian attacks.
It appears all missiles were intercepted by their targets. I don’t know why mafia land have to lie, when they know satellite images will be online the day after.
They can’t help it. Their DNA code makes them lie whenever they open their foul traps.
Seeing this mafia airfield getting blasted is great. But, when will the bridge get hit? And, I hope the AFU won’t forget about the roach logistic system behind enemy lines.
If they can hit the bridge part itself and put that into the Azov, no ships whatsoever will get through the Kerch Strait.
That would be a wonderful double whammy.
If the bridge is destroyed the invaders can’t be pushed out of Crimea no more.
Who says that, Mike? They can be pushed into the sea, and drown like the rats they are.
I like both theories 😉 Or perhaps wait until an oil ship passes under the bridge….then light it up?
That’s not a bad idea, Red. A tanker burning beneath the bridge would be very effective in destroying a good length of it.