Video of the aftermath of the ATACMS strike on airfield near Luhansk released

22 October, 2023 Ka-52 at Luhansk airport. Source: freeze frame from the video A video of the aftermath of an ATACMS ballistic missile strike on an airfield near Luhansk has been posted online.

NEXTA published the video. It captures three Ka-52 helicopters without rotor blades, visually undamaged, and wreckage that may belong to a helicopter of an unknown type. In addition, the concrete surface of the airfield shows signs of bomblets detonation.

The video also captures the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system in an unknown technical condition. On October 17, ATACMS M39 ballistic missiles with a cluster warhead struck airfields in Berdiansk and Luhansk.

Comparison of video and satellite image.

Photo credits: Planet Labs/ Tatarigami_UA

Bomblets managed to cover a large area with enemy aircraft. On the same day, the Special Operation Forces Command reported that nine helicopters of various modifications were destroyed as a result of Operation Dragonfly. It was noted that during the attack, the launcher of the anti-aircraft system and special equipment were hit.

Russian propagandists claimed "painful losses" of equipment and personnel on their media resources. They complained that the Russian military did not prepare for the possible use of missiles of this type by the Ukrainian Defense Forces and suffered significant losses due to this.

Airfield in Berdiansk

The October 18 Planet Labs satellite images published by the Schemes project capture a part of the runway of the Berdyansk airfield, where Russian army aviation was previously based. Photo resolution does not allow to accurately determine the type of equipment destroyed, only confirming its destruction.

However, location and satellite images taken on September 29 allow to roughly compare the equipment and identify it.

Satellite image of Berdyansk airfield, October 18, 2023. Photo credits: Planet Labs/ Schemes

The list of destroyed equipment includes five Russian ??-52 attack helicopters and four ?i-8 transport helicopters. In addition, three more visually intact helicopters (probably Mi-8) remain at the airfield, which were not evacuated.

It can be assumed that they did not leave the airfield due to malfunctions caused by damage from debris.