Ukraine attacked airfield in Morozovsk with at least 70 drones
Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Major General, Kyrylo Budanov (photo: RBC-Ukraine/Vitalii Nosach)
Satellite images confirm a massed strike by Ukrainian drones on the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region overnight on June 14, reports The Warzone.
The Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, informed The Warzone that Ukrainian defense and intelligence units used at least 70 drones to strike at an airbase located 240 kilometers from the front line.
Located in the Rostov region, the airfield serves as a base for dozens of Su-34 fighter-bombers, which have been a key weapon in the war and serves as an operational base for Su-27 fighters.
Satellite images obtained by The Warzone confirm that the airbase deep in Russia was attacked (Photo: PLANET LABS INC.)
However, The Warzone notes that while the attack seems to have caused some damage, its full extent is currently unclear.
Damage to the hangar roof, located on the maintenance platform, is visible in the images from Planet Labs, with two Su-34 fighter-bombers visible inside. The aircraft likely suffered some damage. This hangar was likely the main target for Ukrainian drones.
Two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers were inside a fabric-covered shelter that appears to have been damaged as a result of a massed attack by Ukrainian drones. (Photo: PLANET LABS INC.)
A small crater and fire damage are visible on the platform a short distance from the hangar. It is difficult to say whether any aircraft were damaged, but several jet aircraft are typically parked here.
These images show damage to the platform at the Morozovsk airfield, caused by Ukrainian drones (Photo: PLANET LABS INC.)
The Warzone also notes that the damage visible in the Friday, June 14, image was not present in the image of the airfield taken on June 6.
A broader comparative view of the airbase offers another contrast between the images of June 6 and June 13.
Photo from June 6 (PLANET LABS INC.)
Photo from June 14 (PLANET LABS INC.)
Russian sources differ in their assessments
Russian sources have acknowledged the attack on the airbase but have diverged in their assessments.
The Russian Telegram channel Two Majors claims that no aircraft were damaged. However, the Telegram channel Kremlin Tabakerka asserts that while most drones were shot down before reaching their target, some did reach it, resulting in the deaths of six pilots and injuries to ten servicemen.
Meanwhile, Budanov told The Warzone that an assessment of combat losses is currently ongoing.
"We are waiting for information about whether any aircraft were destroyed or damaged," he said.
The Warzone notes that there is other visual evidence of the airbase being shelled.
Photos and videos appeared on social media overnight showing drones flying over Morozovsk. There were also reports of numerous explosions near the base. Photos on the social media platform X showed a large ball of fire and a huge trail of black smoke in the area of the airfield.
Tonight, Ukrainian drones (reportedly over 30) targeted Russia's Morozovsk airbase, home to a number of Russian Air Force Su-30/34/35 strike aircraft.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 14, 2024
Numerous explosions could be heard near the base, with smoke and flames also spotted rising nearby. pic.twitter.com/YHPQV2uJWL
"The drone flew straight over the head of a subscriber from Morozovsk. The enemy was aiming at the airfield," wrote the Telegram channel Eto Novosty Rostova.
The Morozovsk airfield is located approximately 240 kilometers from the front line (Google Earth image)
According to Budanov, the operation was carried out from the territory of Ukraine. He stated that at least 70, and possibly more, Ukrainian drones Drakon and Splesk struck the airfield.
These data are consistent with the information from the Telegram channel Two Majors, which stated that this attack demonstrated serious vulnerabilities of the Russian air defense system to drones.
"Despite the enemy’s failure to achieve the goals of destroying our aircraft tonight at the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to launch 70 drones deep into our territory at a time, as well as their ability to overcome air defense before approaching the airfield, indicates that the enemy retains a high potential for using this type of homemade weapon defeats," the channel noted.
Russia’s Morozovsk Airbase is currently under Ukrainian drone attack, with several explosions seen in the vicinity of the airfield.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 4, 2024
Morozovsk is home to a number of Russian Air Force Su-34 fighterbombers. pic.twitter.com/CnEP4U8tjv
The Warzone notes that this is the second large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones on the Morozovsk airfield in two months. The airfield was also attacked on April 5. After this strike, several videos and images appeared, which you can see below.
Overnight, Ukrainian drones attacked the Morozovsk Air Base in Rostov Oblast of Russia, which is a home-base of the Russian 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment (Su-34s), 4th Air and Air Defense Army.
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) April 5, 2024
The locals informed that around 40-60 explosions were heard in the area, as Russian… pic.twitter.com/u3BCfM9BNB
Regarding the April 5 attack, Ukrainian officials claimed that at least six military aircraft were destroyed and eight more were seriously damaged as a result of the strike. Kyiv also asserted that 20 Russian servicemen at the base were killed or wounded.
These data are confirmed by a tweet from the Kyiv Post.
BREAKING: At least six military aircraft were destroyed, and eight more were damaged due to a nighttime attack by the Security Service of #Ukraine (#SBU) along with the Ukrainian defense forces on the Russian airbase in Morozovsk on April 5, Kyiv Post sources reported. pic.twitter.com/Z3QrFUsxjj
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 5, 2024
However, the next day, The Warzone received high-resolution satellite images from Planet Lab that did not show any significant damage in Morozovsk.
"The day before the attack, 29 jets were visible in parking areas across the facility. In the imagery obtained from Planet Labs, which was taken today, we can count the same number of aircraft, with no major damage being visible to them or to the base's infrastructure," The Warzone noted at the time.
On the satellite image of the Morozovsk airfield taken by Planet Labs the day after the Ukrainian drone attack on April 5, no significant damage is visible (Photo: PLANET LABS INC.)
Regarding this latest attack, Ukrainian officials have not yet made such bold statements. However, Budanov promised that the base would be attacked again.
"Yes," he replied sharply when asked if the Ukrainian forces planned another air attack on this airfield.
Attack on the airfield in Morozovsk
On the night of Friday, June 14, there were explosions and a fire in the city of Morozovsk in the Rostov region.
The Governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, announced that the air defense forces supposedly successfully repelled a massive drone attack on the region. He later reported damage to the power grid, resulting in power outages in some residents' homes.
After the night strike, satellite images showed that all Russian fighters had disappeared from the Morozovsk airfield.
On April 5, the Defense Forces, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, launched an attack on the Morozovsk airfield. At that time, 6 enemy aircraft were destroyed, and 8 more were significantly damaged.
