"About 30 Russian servicemen were killed and about 80 injured at the airport in Dzhankoy," the Crimean Wind Telegram channel in Crimea reported on April 17.
According to Newsweek , Crimean Wind is a pro-Ukrainian monitoring group focused on the Crimea region and often provides reliable information.
Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for southern Ukrainian forces, described Dzhankoy as a legitimate military target but declined to provide further details.
“It is clear that this is a military airfield, which means it is a legitimate target. Russia regularly moves assets to protect them from damage. But this is not always successful,” the spokesman added.
A prominent Russian military blogger, Rybar, said Ukrainian forces attacked the Russian air base at Dzhankoy using more than 10 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). The blogger said the missiles were launched in two waves.
Russia has not yet commented on the above information.
Russia's Dzhankoy military airport in Crimea comes under attack
Video footage widely circulated on social media by Russian and Ukrainian news sources this morning shows flashes of light and loud explosions, along with sirens. Data from NASA’s Fire Information Resource Management System, which tracks fires around the world, showed six fires burning just outside Dzhankoy overnight.
Several Telegram channels reported a series of explosions that began just before 4 a.m. local time and said nearby roads had been blocked.
Dzhankoy, located south of the Crimean crossing into the Kherson region, is a major military center. Dzhankoy, home to one of Russia's largest airports in Crimea, is a key location for supplying Russian forces on the mainland.
Previous satellite imagery of Dzhankoy showed Russia had several helicopters and advanced air defense systems at the site. Earlier this month, pro-Ukrainian groups operating in Crimea said they had detected the construction of air defense systems on the peninsula, including in Dzhankoy. The Atesh group said the additional air defense missile systems around the Dzhankoy airport were “not camouflaged in any way.”
Dzhankoy location on the map (Photo: BBC).
Ukraine has previously launched attacks on Russian military bases in Crimea.
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian air force announced it had launched missile strikes on Belbek airport near the port city of Sevastopol on the western edge of Crimea.
The Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, has become a key area for Russia to launch its military campaign in Ukraine. From Crimea, Russia has controlled a large area of territory in southern Ukraine.
The Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea still serves as a base from which Russia deploys aircraft and warships close to Ukraine.
Source
Comment (0)