Russian MiG-31 aircraft destroyed at Savasleyka airbase - Ukraine's General Staff
Photo: The Kinzhal aeroballistic missile carrier was destroyed at the Savasleika air base (wikipedia)
Units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia. 2 aircraft were destroyed, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Russian Savasleyka air base is used for strikes on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, MiG-31K fighters, which are carriers of Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, regularly take off from this military facility.
"According to preliminary information, 2 units of Russian aircraft (probably MiG-31 and Su-30/34) were hit. The results of combat operations are being clarified," the Ukraine's General Staff says.
Kinzhal carriers
Savasleyka is a military airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia. Its full name is Savasleyka airbase. It is located near the village of the same name in the district of the city of Pervomaisk. The airfield is used by the Russian Armed Forces, in particular, to deploy and train combat aircraft crews.
Since 2022, MiG-31Ks have been used by Russia to launch Kinzhal missiles, which are considered highly vulnerable to air defense due to their hypersonic speed.
MiG-31s are often based or temporarily relocated to airfields in northern Russia (including Savasleyka) and Belarus.
The appearance of MiG-31s in the air is often detected by Ukrainian air defense as a potential threat of missile launch.
On the morning of June 9, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a missile threat throughout Ukraine due to the takeoff of the MiG-31K. Some time later, it was reported at 9 a.m. that the Kinzhals were heading toward the Rivne region. Later, it was reported that 3 explosions were heard in the Rivne region.
