Ukrainian troops launch missile strikes on military airfields in Crimea

16 May, 2024 Fire caused by missile strikes on the Hvardiiske military air base, Simferopol, May 15, 2024. On the night of May 15-16, Russian Belbek and Hvardiiske military air bases were attacked by ballistic missiles. Local media and Russian agencies reported on this.

At night, around 11:00 p.m., the Hvardiiske air base, located 13 km from Simferopol, was hit, causing a fire to break out at the military facility. As of the morning of May 16, the damage to the air base was not known. Aviation of the 37th Mixed Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces, including a squadron of Su-24M bombers and a squadron of Su-25 attack aircraft, is stationed at this facility.

Hvardiiske Air Base, Crimea.

The repeated missile strike on the Belbek military air base is also confirmed by local residents and published footage of the fire.

It took place only a day after the first raid. Before the large-scale combined strike that took place on May 14-15, a Russian squadron of Su-27 fighter jets, a squadron of Su-35 fighters, and MiG-31 interceptors (not to be confused with MiG-31K aeroballistic missile carriers) were based at the facility. Both airfields were also equipped with air and missile defense systems, including the S-400. It is known that part of one of these systems, along with the radar, was damaged during the first strike on Belbek.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the ballistic missile strike, traditionally stating that all means of destruction were intercepted: "On May 15, at about 11:00 p.m... with the use of American ATACMS tactical missiles at targets on the territory of the Russian Federation. Five operational-tactical missiles were destroyed by regular air defense systems over the territory of the Republic of Crimea," the Russian ministry said in a statement.

Missile strikes on Crimea

It is not clear what type of weapons were used to attack the Russian air bases in Crimea that night.

However, a day earlier, MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles were used to strike the Belbek military air base.

Operational tactical missiles with cluster warheads successfully covered a large area of the air base with a dense field of submunition.

Spent engine of MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missile and fragments of M74 cluster submunitions at Belbek military air base, May 15, 2024.

According to unconfirmed information from several public sources, the missile strike damaged/destroyed two MiG-31 interceptors, an S-400 SAM system, and a depot with fuel and lubricants.