While the Ukrainian troops are under pressure at the front, they are trying to hit the enemy far in the rear. There are indications that the US secretly supplied the Ukrainians with additional Atacms missiles.
The Ukrainian armed forces carried out one of their largest air strikes in recent months on Wednesday, inflicting a heavy loss on Russia. The target was targets in widely separated regions, from Tatarstan in the Russian Ural region to the occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. There were several violent explosions at the Russian air force base near Dzhankoi. This is what happens, among other things Videos from residents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the attack, while there was no official information from the Russian side. But by closing a road near the base for hours on Wednesday, local authorities indirectly acknowledged that something extraordinary had happened there.
S-400 anti-aircraft system destroyed
Data from earth observation satellites also show several sources of fire in the Dzhankoy military area. The area affected was the part of the base where Russia has stationed several attack helicopters, as well as an anti-aircraft position.
According to Ukrainian military information, radar stations and several launch pads of an S-400 anti-aircraft system fell victim to the attack. Satellite images released on Friday appear to confirm the destruction of at least four components of such an anti-aircraft battery. An image is circulating on the Internet that gives an idea of the destruction.
The loss of an S-400 system is a significant setback for Russia, as the corresponding stocks are in short supply and the Ukrainians have already weakened Russian air defenses in Crimea on previous occasions. The longer-term goal is likely to be to eliminate the Russian defense shield to such an extent that successful attacks on the Crimean Bridge near Kerch and other strategic targets are possible.
A Ukrainian military representative spoke on Thursday of a good “harvest” from the latest operation. The military-affiliated Russian analysis group Rybar openly admitted that there was damage to military equipment and a base building. According to Rybar, it is also clear how the attack was carried out – with a dozen American-made ballistic missiles, so-called Atacms missiles.
This makes one sit up and take notice, because according to current knowledge, the USA had only supplied this type of weapon to the Ukrainians once, and in very small numbers. After a few missions in the fall, supplies were already exhausted. However, there were rumors in March that Washington could use budget tricks and despite the blockage of military aid in Congress to give some of these missiles to Ukraine again.
Because of their long range of 165 kilometers, the Atacms missiles are very valuable to Kiev. The garrison town of Dzhankoi, located in the north of Crimea, can just about be reached. The rockets are equipped with cluster munitions – hundreds of small bombs that are spread over an area the size of several football fields in the target area. This is particularly suitable against easily vulnerable targets such as helicopters or radar systems. The Ukrainians have often requested but never received a newer version of it from the US, with a range of 300 kilometers and a more powerful, single warhead. However, the new military aid bill now being voted on in the House of Representatives instructs the government to deliver such long-range missiles.
Long-range drones against Russia’s hinterland
Further Ukrainian attacks on Wednesday were directed against the Yelabuga drone factory and the Tupolev aircraft factory in Kazan, both a good 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian-Russian front.
Long-range drones were used, which, according to Russian information, could be repelled. According to sources in Ukrainian military intelligence, however, they managed to hit a strategically important radar facility halfway, in Kovylkino in the Russian republic of Mordovia. The large container-type system is only a few years old and is part of an early warning system that allows Russia to detect enemy missile attacks at a distance of up to 3,000 kilometers. There is no evidence of damage.
Another drone attack was carried out on Wednesday evening against the southern Russian city of Voronezh, where, according to reports on social networks Grossbrand broke out, possibly in a fuel depot. Russia also carried out heavy air strikes on Wednesday, including on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. According to Ukrainian information, 18 people were killed and 77 others were injured. The main area affected was a hotel, which was severely damaged by an impact. While Ukraine speaks of another war crime, Russia claims that the hotel was used for military purposes.