Special Operations Forces conducted a successful DRAGONFLY operation
17 October, 2023 Illustrative photo of the Russian Mi-8. Photo from open sources. The Special Operations Forces reported on the successful conduct of the DRAGONFLY operation to destroy airfields near temporarily occupied Luhansk and Berdiansk.
The press service of the SOF announced this on its social media. "The Special Operations Forces received information about the enemy's use of airfields in the temporarily occupied Berdiansk and Luhansk, as well as the presence of a significant number of aviation and special equipment and ammunition," the statement said. The information was verified and confirmed, and the target coordinates and the necessary data were transferred to the Defense Forces of Ukraine units.
Russian helicopters at the airfield in Berdiansk, September 2023.
Photo credits: Planet Labs.
As a result of the fire attack on the night of October 16-17, the Russian invasion forces suffered significant losses. According to the latest reports, these strikes on airfields near Luhansk and Berdyansk hit:
- nine helicopters of various modifications;
- special equipment that was located at airfields;
- air defense launcher;
- ammunition depot;
- airfield runways were damaged.
It was reported that the detonation of ammunition in Berdiansk lasted until 4 a.m. and in Luhansk until 11 a.m. The enemy's casualties are estimated at dozens of dead and wounded, and bodies are still being removed from the rubble.
Russian propaganda Telegram channels publish photos of bomblets allegedly left at the airfield after the fire attack.
- Remnants of bomblets.
- Remnants of bomblets.
The Russians claim that the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly hit the airfields with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles with cluster warheads. It is worth noting that the bomblets in the Russian photos do look like M74 submunitions used in ATACMS. Other Russian propagandists related to aviation also report the fact of a Ukrainian strike on the airfield in Berdiansk and the losses among the invaders.
Satellite data also indicate fires at the airfield.