(Dan Tri) – Russia’s advanced air defense system and two fighter jets were damaged in Ukraine’s long-range missile attack on an important air base in Crimea.
Russian air defense system in Crimea (Photo: Sputnik).
Russia’s independent news agency Astra cited unnamed sources in emergency response agencies in Crimea as saying that two MiG-31 fighter jets were `destroyed` and the S-400 air defense system was damaged.
Astra reported that a fuel warehouse caught fire during the Ukrainian raid.
At dawn on May 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Moscow’s air defense forces intercepted 10 missiles of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) provided by the US fired into Crimea overnight.
The Russian-appointed governor of the Sevastopol region, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said Russian air defenses had `repelled a large-scale attack` on Sevastopol, including several missiles around Belbek airport.
The pro-Ukrainian movement ATESH, operating in Crimea, said on May 15 that the weapons depot at Belbek airport was damaged.
The attacked arsenal housed most of the bombs and missiles used by Su-27, Su-30 and MiG-31 fighter bombers.
Olexander Scherba, former Ukrainian ambassador to Austria, claimed that `many fighter jets` and the S-400 air defense system, and possibly a strategic missile system, were `destroyed` at Belbek airport
Photos widely circulated online on May 15 appeared to show a damaged S-400 radar.
In a separate statement late on May 15, Governor Razvozhaev said the Russian military had `repelled` another Ukrainian attack on the port city in Crimea.
Before the conflict in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, the Russian air force often stationed 20-40 fighter jets and bombers permanently at Belbek.
Belbek Air Base in the city of Sevastopol is currently home to many modern fighter aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30 as well as MiG-31.
Belbek Air Base has long been considered a top target for Ukraine.
Ukrainian missile attack targets include Crimea, a Russian peninsula that was declared annexed in 2014 and has military significance in the Ukrainian battlefield.
Crimea has been strongly fortified over the past 10 years and the peninsula plays an important role in the Russian military’s strategy.
Crimea also serves as a logistics hub and important military supply route to southern Ukraine, and is where Russia launched a series of missiles and drones against Kiev targets.
Ukraine has recently carried out many attacks on Crimea and claimed to have weakened Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
