Ukraine announced it attacked 4 Russian S-400 launchers in Crimea

Ukrainian intelligence said its forces destroyed or severely damaged four Russian S-400 launchers during a raid on Dzhankoy airport, Crimea, on April 17.

The attack also disabled three radar stations, an air defense equipment control point and the "Fundament-M" airspace monitoring device at the airport, the Main Directorate of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) announced on April 18.

"We are determining the number of enemy aviation infrastructure damaged, destroyed and casualties of Russian servicemen," GUR said.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.

Pro-Ukrainian military blogger Krymsky Viter said at least 30 Russian soldiers were killed and 80 wounded in the attack, adding that the wounded were being taken to hospitals at Russia’s main naval base in Sevastopol. Images on social media showed several ambulance helicopters flying around the Dzhankoy airport on April 17.

Atesh, a Crimean-based rebel group, said it had taken part in the raid on Dzhankoy airport. "The enemy was so confident in their latest air defense systems that they placed missile storage facilities right next to the launch pads," the group said.

Social media videos show multiple large explosions in succession at the area believed to be the Dzhankoy airport, lighting up the sky. At least three S-400 launchers were destroyed, according to images posted on X.

Ukraine attacks S-400 — The moment when Ukraine allegedly attacked Dzhankoy airport and the photo of the destroyed S-400 launcher. Video: *X/Slava Ukrani*

The pro-Ukrainian military Telegram account ZSU-War said the attack took place in two waves, starting with a strike on the S-400 site, destroying three launchers and a radar station. The second wave targeted the airport's equipment repair and maintenance facility.

Rybar, a pro-Russian military account with one million followers on Telegram, also said Ukraine attacked the Dzhankoy airport in two waves, adding that the enemy used about 12 ATACMS ballistic missiles in the incident.

Ukrainian media also said that the country's forces launched ballistic missiles, but it is unclear whether they were ATACMS or not.

Experts previously assessed that the ability to cause widespread damage makes the M39, an ATACMS variant that uses cluster munitions that the US provided to Ukraine, a suitable weapon to attack targets such as Russian airports. In October 2023, the Ukrainian military announced that it had "neutralized" 21 enemy helicopters when it launched ATACMS missiles to attack the airport in the eastern city of Berdyansk.

Features of the long-range cluster munitions delivered to Ukraine — ATACMS missile features. Graphics: *RYV*

Dzhankoy Airport, located more than 140 km from the front line, is an important military airport and logistics hub for Russia in Crimea, and is also the base of the 39th Independent Helicopter Regiment of Russia.

Open source data shows that at least 12 Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopter gunships, as well as four Su-25 attack aircraft, were deployed to the base last month. Russia reportedly moved the helicopters from Dzhankoy to the Kirovski airport in eastern Crimea before the April 17 Ukrainian invasion.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian air bases in Crimea since the beginning of the conflict. Earlier this year, Kiev said it had launched a barrage of missiles at the Belbek military airport near the port city of Sevastopol. In August 2022, a series of explosions at the Saky air base in western Crimea damaged several Russian aircraft.