On Tuesday, Ukraine launched multiple long-range ATACMS missiles at Belbek airbase, currently occupied by the Russian air force. The missiles contained hundreds of grenade-sized bomblets and reportedly destroyed at least four Russian jet aircraft. From Forbes:
"It was one of the biggest single-day aircraft losses for the Russian military in Russia’s 27-month war on Ukraine. The only bigger loss may have occurred in May 2023, when a Ukrainian air force Patriot surface-to-air missile battery shot down at least four, possibly five, Russian fighters and helicopters over southern Russia.
Belbek, which lies 150 miles south of the front line in southern Ukraine, hosts Russian air force Sukhoi Su-27 or Sukhoi Su-30 fighters as well as Russian navy Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors and, it seems, navy Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters.
The MiG-31s are some of the most dangerous warplanes in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Firing radar-guided R-27 missiles farther than 200 miles, the MiG-31s have shot down several Ukrainian warplanes—and forced many others to abandon their missions. [snip]
[Satellite] imagery revealed that two MiG-31s, an Su-27 or similar Su-30 and what appears to be a MiG-29K burned to the ground in their roofless revetments. It was the first time the Russians had lost a MiG-31 or MiG-29K in combat in Russia’s wider war with Ukraine."
The M39A1 ATACMS missiles used in the attack were part of a supply shipped to Ukraine in April, and reportedly fired from launchers loaned by the UK, Germany and Italy. This particular missile has a range of 190 miles, capable of hitting Russian air force and naval installations in Crimea, which was occupied by Russia in 2014.
Keep these munitions coming. Russia can't be allowed to have a safe zone near Ukraine where they are free to launch attacks on Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure.
(photo: Belbek air base damaged in Ukrainian strike. Armed forces of Ukraine / MAXAR)
