Russia Bombs Ukraine MiG-29 Air Base to Preempt Counterstrikes

KYIV: A Ukrainian Air Force press statement informed that Russia unleashed the Iskander-M ballistic and Iskander-K cruise missiles, as well as Geran-2 drones to hit a Ukraine airbase.

On the intervening night of June 9 and 10, a missile attack, backed by drones, was carried out by Russia on Mirgorod Air Base in Poltava Oblast. The base is home to the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade flying MiG-29 fighters.

According to the reports, a total of 8 ground-based missiles and 35 Geran-2 drones were launched by Russia from an area on the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov. Several of the missiles and drones were said to be directed at targets in Odessa and Kharkiv regions.

Dmytro Lunin,the head of Poltava Oblast, informed that the strike managed to damage airfield infrastructure and other equipment.

According to the Military Informant, NASA satellites had recorded two powerful explosions on the territory of the Mirgorod airbase at 3:39 AM. Judging by the layout of the airbase and the juxtaposition of coordinates of the explosions in satellite photos, it appeared that underground fuel and ammunition storage facilities were hit.

Iskander missiles are used by Russia when it needs to strike a target hard and with confirmation. The Iskander-M is a quasi-ballistic missile which keeps on changing its trajectory. Moreover, during the terminal phase of its trajectory, it reaches hypersonic velocity. The missile is hard to intercept, and it has great penetration and destructive power, making it suitable for destroying underground facilities.

On the other hand, the Iskander-K is a type of stealth cruise missile that is not only accurate but difficult to intercept as well.

Russia’s strike on the Poltava air base was primarily aimed at limiting the ability of the Ukrainian Air Force’s (UAF) MiG-29 fighter aircraft to mount counter air strikes against Russian forces.

The UAF’s MiG-29 fighters are used to strike Russian air defense radars with HARM missiles and possibly to strike Russian command and control centers with JDAM-ER glide bombs.

In the past, the UAF has successfully coordinated MiG-29 HARM strikes with Su-24MR Storm Shadow strikes. The HARM missile destroys any Russian AD unit attempting to intercept Storm Shadow missiles.

Russia’s strike on the Poltava air base was the third strike on Ukraine’s bases. It earlier struck two UAF air bases used by Su-24MR fighter bombers, which are the launch platforms for British Storm Shadow missiles

On the night of June 4, Russian missiles took out the Kanatove reserve air base near Kirovograd.

Earlier on May 29, the Starokostiantyniv Air Base, the home base of Su-24MR fighter bombers in the Khmelnytsky region, was hit by Russia.

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