Air War in Ukraine - One Su-57 Less
In this installment, we will cover the period from June 1 to June 30. Both sides were preparing for the anticipated inclusion of F-16 fighter jets in the Ukrainian Air Force. The Ukrainian side continued clearing the airspace for them, targeting Russian airfields, radars, and air defense systems. In one of these operations, they managed to strike the latest Russian Su-57 fighter jet. Russia also attempted massive attacks on Ukrainian airfields where it expected the F-16s to be deployed.
Miro Barič
One Su-57 Less
We begin with a recap of Ukrainian attacks.
On the night of Wednesday, June 5, to Thursday,
June 6, Ukrainian drones attacked the
Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia's Rostov
region. A large fire broke out after the strike.
The refinery's anti-drone defenses, including
metal cages and nets around the facility,
proved ineffective.
On Saturday, June 8, Ukrainian drones
appeared over North Ossetia for the first
time. Their target was the Mozdok air base,
out of which Tu-22M3 and MiG-31K aircraft
operate. The base is located more than 700
kilometers from the front line in Ukraine.
Russian authorities initially announced that
three attacking drones were shot down and
no damage occurred. However, social media
later showed photos of drone debris indicating
that at least six drones attacked (as there
were that many engines in the photos). Sergey
Menyaylo, head of the North Ossetia republic,
later admitted to minor damages and fires,
though details were not disclosed. Satellite
images from June 12 captured traces of fires
likely caused by the drone impacts, although
they were far from the aircraft parking
areas, which were empty as the Russians had
evacuated their planes after the Ukrainian
attack.
Expensive Prey
On the same day, June 8, Ukrainian drones
also attacked the Akhtubinsk base in Russia's
Astrakhan region, located 600 kilometers from
the front line. In this operation, they managed
to damage the most modern Russian fighter
jet, the Sukhoi Su-57, with shrapnel. The
929th State Flight Test Center V. P. Chkalov
is based in Akhtubinsk, where Su-57 planes
were undergoing tests. They were parked in
an uncovered area. Satellite images show two
craters and burnt areas near one Su-57, just
a few meters away from the aircraft, and even
Russian Telegram channels acknowledged it
was hit by shrapnel. Only a detailed inspection
would reveal whether it could be repaired or
was too damaged to be salvaged. Ukrainian
military intelligence (HUR) reported that
another Su-57 was also hit, but sustained only
minor, repairable damage.
The following day, Sunday, June 9, marked
a milestone for the Ukrainian Air Force as they
launched their first attack on Russian territory
using manned aircraft. The Russian command
building in Belgorod was hit, likely using
Western-guided munitions. Several countries
had recently lifted restrictions on using
such munitions on Russian soil in response
to Russian attacks on the Ukrainian Kharkiv
region.
Attacks on Russian air defense systems
also continued. On Monday, June 10, two S-300
systems in Yevpatoria and the Tarkhankut
Peninsula, and an S-400 system in Dzhankoy
on occupied Crimea, were hit. On Tuesday,
June 11, two radars – one from an S-300 and
In this installment, we will cover the period from June 1 to June 30. Both sides were
preparing for the anticipated inclusion of F-16 fighter jets in the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Ukrainian side continued clearing the airspace for them, targeting Russian airfields,
radars, and air defense systems. In one of these operations, they managed to strike the
latest Russian Su-57 fighter jet. Russia also attempted massive attacks on Ukrainian
airfields where it expected the F-16s to be deployed.
Ukrainian Su-27.
It’s a refurbished
airplane sporting
the early camouflage.
Air War in Ukraine
INFO Eduard24
August 2024