In what some are calling the greatest single-day losses in Russian Air Force history, Ukraine completely devasted two airfields. One Russian milblogger called it “one of the most serious blows of all time in the Northern Military District. If not the most serious.”
Just a few weeks ago, President Biden approved the transfer of ATACMS to Ukraine, which he had long resisted. Reasons given were fear of escalation as they have a dramatic range difference and could hit Russian targets inside Russia. And also that they were unnecessary for the war effort. Well, neither of those excuses seem to have any merit.
Source: Business Insider
Ukraine says its forces launched attacks that damaged Russian airfields behind the lines and destroyed multiple helicopters on Tuesday, and according to multiple reports and a source familiar with the matter, the strikes involved MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, secretly obtained from the US.
Kyiv's defense ministry said the attacks on the airfields in Berdyansk and Luhansk — both of which are in Russian-occupied territory — resulted in the loss of nine helicopters, an air-defense launcher, vehicles, and ammunition depots, and caused severe damage to the airstrips. Ukraine attributed the "successful" operation, known as "Dragonfly," to the country's special operations forces, which also published details of the incidents.
In the aftermath of the strikes, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts, Russian military bloggers, and analysts began suggesting on social media that Ukraine used ATACMS to carry out the attack, which would be a first for Ukraine.
The numbers were astonishing. Each Ka-52 helicopter is said to cost over $30 million USD. via Kyiv Post:
Kyiv claimed to have destroyed nine helicopters, an air defence launcher, an ammunition warehouse and said it had damaged runways. It also claimed Russian forces had suffered losses in the operation.
Aircraft known to be based by the Russian Air Force at Berdyansk airport include Ka-52 and Mi-8 general-purpose helicopters, and Mi-24 and Mi-28 helicopter gunships.
Complete and utter devastation.
Zelensky thanks Biden again.
As always, Ukraine is the absolute best at memes and trolling Russia.
