The effects of Operation Dragonfly have become reported
Published satellite images of Luhansk and Berdiansk airfields reveal the scale of Ukrainian missile strikes and the number of destroyed invaders' aircraft. Militarnyi reports on this. The Planet Labs satellite images published by the Schemes project on October 18 capture part of the runway of the Berdiansk airfield, where the Russian military aircraft used to be based.
The resolution of the images does not allow determining the exact type of damaged equipment, only confirming its destruction. However, based on the location and satellite images taken on September 29, it is possible to roughly match the equipment and identify it.
Satellite image of the Berdiansk airfield, October 18, 2023. Photo credits: Planet Labs/Schemes
The list of destroyed aircraft includes five Russian Ka-52 reconnaissance and attack helicopters and four Mi-8 military transport helicopters.
In addition, three other visually intact helicopters (presumably 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 the wreckage.
Visually intact helicopters at the Berdiansk airfield, October 18, 2023. Photo credits: Planet Labs/Schemes
Luhansk Airport
Detailed satellite images of Luhansk airport by Planet Labs for October 18 were also published by the Tatarigami_UA project.
The photo captures two helicopters [orange outline] that show visible signs of damage, such as oil or fuel leaks. Four other aircraft [yellow outline] were in the strike area but showed no direct signs of damage. Their presence at the airfield a day after the strike could be due to the inability to fly due to damage.
Satellite image of Luhansk airport, October 18, 2023. Photo credits: Planet Labs/Tatarigami_UA
It is worth noting that a number of dense blackouts are clearly spotted on the surface of the airfield, which look like cluster munition detonation marks. They were not present in the images preceding the missile strike.
On October 17, the airfields in Berdiansk and Luhansk were struck by M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles with cluster warheads. The cluster munitions managed to hit a large area with enemy aircraft. On the same day, the command of the Special Operations Forces reported that nine helicopters of various modifications were destroyed as a result of Operation Dragonfly.
In addition, the report stated that the launcher of an air defense system and special equipment were destroyed.