Ukraine has successfully targeted a Russian airbase using long-range drones, causing significant damage to critical infrastructure and equipment.
According to Business Insider, the attack on the Marinovka airfield in Russia's Volgograd region occurred on August 22, 2024. The airbase was known to be a key facility for Russian front-line strikes and storage of glide bombs.
Newly released satellite imagery has revealed the extent of the destruction caused by the Ukrainian attack. The British defense ministry reported that the strike resulted in widespread damage to essential infrastructure and equipment at the Marinovka airbase.
Ukrainian Long-Range Drones Destroy Russian Aircraft Shelters
The attack on the Marinovka airfield demonstrated the effectiveness of Ukraine's locally produced long-range drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles were used to target the Russian base, which was beyond the reach of Western-provided missiles due to restrictions on their use against Russian territory.
According to the UK defense ministry's intelligence update, the Ukrainian strike destroyed four aircraft shelters and damaged three others. The attack also obliterated a radome, which is a protective enclosure for radar equipment, along with several support buildings and open storage area facilities.
Satellite images captured by Maxar Technologies before and after the attack provide visual evidence of the extensive damage inflicted on the Russian airbase. The images clearly show the destruction of multiple storage areas and aircraft shelters.
Security Service of Ukraine Highlights Strategic Importance
A source from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) emphasized the strategic significance of the attack. The SBU representative stated:
The SBU works with surgical precision at the airfields from which the enemy attacks Ukraine. Each strike, like the one at Marinovka, reduces the superiority of the Russians in the air and significantly limits their aviation capabilities.
Ukraine's Campaign Against Russian Glide Bombs
The attack on Marinovka airfield is part of Ukraine's broader campaign to counter the threat posed by Russian glide bombs. These weapons, which are essentially dumb bombs equipped with precision-guided kits, have been causing significant damage to Ukrainian cities and troop positions.
Glide bombs are particularly challenging to intercept due to their short flight times, small radar signatures, and non-ballistic trajectories. Russia has been using these deadly weapons, some weighing over 6,000 pounds, to inflict considerable damage on Ukrainian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently highlighted the severity of the threat, stating that Russia had used over 800 glide bombs in a single week. He emphasized the need for a decisive response:
Terror can only be reliably stopped in one way: by striking Russian military airfields, their bases, and the logistics of Russian terror. We must achieve this.
Long-Range Strike Campaign to Counter Russian Air Threat
Ukraine's strategy to neutralize the threat of Russian glide bombs involves a two-pronged approach. The primary objective is to shoot down Russian aircraft before they can release their payload. Alternatively, Ukraine aims to destroy the aircraft and bombs on the ground at their bases.
The attack on Marinovka airfield exemplifies Ukraine's long-range strike campaign, which seeks to disrupt Russia's ability to launch air attacks and store dangerous munitions. By targeting these facilities, Ukraine hopes to reduce the number of glide bombs that can be deployed against its cities and military positions.
This successful strike demonstrates Ukraine's growing capabilities in long-range drone warfare and its determination to counter Russian air superiority. The destruction of aircraft shelters, storage facilities, and support infrastructure at Marinovka represents a significant blow to Russia's ability to conduct air operations from this particular base.
