Ukrainian Defense Intelligence names destroyed Russian aircraft in Savasleyka
Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Major General, Kyrylo Budanov (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, following the strike on the Russian airfield Savasleyka and the destruction of several aircraft, recently conducted attacks on an airbase in the Rostov region and a radio technical reconnaissance center in Podolsk. The airport near Moscow was a deceptive target, reports Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Major General, Kyrylo Budanov.
According to Budanov, on August 21, we conducted several operations using drones.
In addition to the strike on the radio communications center, Ukrainian intelligence also targeted Moscow's Ostafyevo Airport and the Millerovo air base in the Rostov region.
Budanov told TWZ (The War Zone) reporters that around 50 drones were involved in the operations. The extent of damage to Russian targets is currently being assessed by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.
It is also noted that on August 21, there were reports on social media of a drone attack in the area of the Olenya airbase in the Murmansk region, where Russian strategic bombers are stationed above the Arctic Circle.
Additionally, it should be recalled that the Millerovo air base in the Rostov region was previously attacked in July.
Drone attacks in the Moscow region
The Ostafyevo Airport, established in 2018, features a pair of large circular antenna arrays designed to provide open strategic signals and/or communication missions.
However, as noted in the TWZ, it is possible that another radio technical reconnaissance center either at the airport or in the vicinity, or the Moscow region overall, was targeted instead.
Budanov did not specify the exact location of the communications center in discussions with the media.
However, the head of Defense Intelligence remarked to TWZ that the Ostafyevo airfield was a deceptive target.
"It’s an airfield for transport aviation," Budanov said.
He added that the signals intelligence center is located in the Podolsk district, approximately 8 km south of the airfield.
Destruction of aircraft in Savasleyka
Budanov also revealed that the drone attack on August 16 at the Russian airfield Savasleyka in the Nizhny Novgorod region destroyed a MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor, which carries the air-launched ballistic missiles Kinzhal, and two Il-76 Candid transport aircraft.
This Russian facility had been targeted before. As reported by RBC-Ukraine sources, on August 14, Ukraine launched its largest attack on Russian airfields, including Voronezh, Kursk, Savasleyka, and Borisoglebsk.
Additionally, RBC-Ukraine sources revealed today that, following the August 16 attack at Savasleyka, besides the two Il-76s and one MiG-31K/I destroyed, around five aircraft, likely MiG-31K/I, were damaged.
Additionally, before the August 16 attack, another strike was carried out on the Savasleyka airfield on August 13. This attack targeted a fuel storage facility and damaged a MiG-31K/I aircraft.
For more details on the largest attack on Russian airfields since the beginning of the war, you can read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
