Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s Myrhorod Airbase in Poltava region with cluster munitions, an alleged retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on Sevastopol.
Media published footage of the destruction and damage to Su-27 fighter jets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) by a strike of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system on 1 July. Forbes reported that the AFU deployed Su-27 fighters in open terrain 100 miles from the front line.
According to unbiased footage, Russian forces allegedly destroyed five operational and damaged two more fighter jets in a group missile strike.
Shortly before Monday, a Russian reconnaissance drone flew from Russian positions to the Ukrainian Air Force airbase at Myrhorod, 100 miles from Ukraine’s northern border with Russia. The drone spotted at least six Ukrainian Su-27 supersonic fighter jets parked outside.
As a result, a Russian missile allegedly destroyed five Sukhois, damaging the other two. Former Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Inhat confirmed the attack, urging not to raise panic.
It may have been one of the costliest single days for the battered Ukrainian air arm since Russia widened its war on Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian bloggers and media blamed air force officers who ordered Su-27 crews to park their aircraft in the open air at a base near the front line.
Easy target
The Myrhorod Airbase is a crucial military facility for the AFU. Occasionally, Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 jets take off from there to strike with guided bombs or intercept carriers of bombs with the Universal Gliding and Correction Module (UGCM).
It is noteworthy that there is no permanent AFU air group at the airbase, as the facility is within the range of Iskander missiles. However, the departure of Ukrainian fighters from other sites consumes more fuel and reduces the fighters’ combat radius. Therefore, a certain number of jets occasionally appear near the runway.
Damaging or destroying fighters on the airfield plays an important role in weakening the opposing forces. In addition, it is very difficult to repair an aircraft after receiving a hit. However, some fighters must remain at the airbase to minimise the impact of a missile strike. Since it is impossible to keep fighters in the air all the time, they refuel or rearm sooner or later. At such times, they become easy targets for missiles.
Critics emphasise that the strike might not have happened. They argued that it was Ukraine that provoked the retaliatory strike, presumably with cluster munitions. Earlier, on 23 June, one of the US-made ATACMS missiles fired by Ukrainian forces hit a beach in Sevastopol, Crimea. The attack resulted in the death of four people with about 151 injured.
Effective strike on Myrhorod Airbase
Media described the strike on the Myrhorod Airbase as the most effective since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. The attack came at a time when the Netherlands authorised the export of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Outgoing Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren revealed that in a letter to the House of Representatives published on Monday.
On 19 June, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation issued an export authorisation for 24 F-16 aircraft and seven F-16 aircraft engines… The Netherlands will soon deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced measures to reinforce Ukraine’s air defence. Speaking at the Brookings Institution, he stated that the US was interested in attracting private investment to Ukraine.
Now, of course, for both its military capacity and its economic capacity, you’ve got to make sure that you have air defenses in place to try to protect the areas in which you’re making investments. We’re driving that. I think you’ll see more news on that in the coming weeks as we get to the NATO summit actually next week.
