How Ukraine’s strikes on airfields in Crimea and Sochi could affect Russia: Expert explanation

Hetman commented on whether Ukrainian attacks could affect Russia’s plans to launch new strikes on Ukraine.

"It’s unlikely to affect those aerial attacks involving cruise missiles launched from strategic bombers or MiG-31 jets carrying Kinzhal missiles. But when it comes to tactical aviation — like the Su-34 and Su-35 jets that carry out strikes with guided aerial bombs (KABs) — of course, it will have an impact," Hetman emphasized.

According to him, tactical aircraft were based at the airfield in Sochi. As for the airfield in Saky, there is information suggesting that five enemy aircraft were either destroyed or damaged.

"What kind of strike was it? Missile strikes. If that’s the case, then hopefully it was our ballistic missiles. There’s already a lot of talk that we have our own ballistic missiles, which we’ve already used — so far in limited numbers along the front line," Hetman said.

He noted that the distance to Crimea isn’t particularly great, so a Ukrainian missile could very well have reached the target.

Hetman also did not rule out that Ukraine may have received permission to use American weapons over longer distances.

"We hope that it was our weaponry. And that we’re not violating anything — no rules, no traditions of war, or international laws. We have the right to strike military and military-industrial targets on the territory of an aggressor state," he added.

Ukrainian strike

On the night of August 4, fighters from the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Saky military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea.

As a result of the attack, a Su-30SM fighter jet was destroyed, and Su-24 bombers were damaged.

Also on August 4, it was reported that the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces struck the fuel and refueling facility at Sochi Airport.