Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed S-400 launchers and radar in Crimea
17 April, 2024 Destroyed S-400 SAM. Source: "Dosye Shpiona" Telegram channel On the night of April 17, a military airfield of the 39th Helicopter Regiment of the 4th Guards Army of the Air Force and Air Defense near the city of Dzhankoy in temporarily occupied Crimea was attacked.
Telegram channel Dosye Shpiona reported on this. Two US-made MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles reportedly carried out the strike. The @war_home Telegram channel, which often publishes photos of the Russian missile wreckage, released photos of the missile fragment and suggested that it is the tail part of ATACMS.
At the same time, Ukrainian media, citing their own sources, report that the strike was inflicted by modernized Soviet weapons.
Missile fragment similar to ATACMS tail. Photo from social media
Three launchers and a radar of the S-400 Triumph air defense system were destroyed as a result of the strike. The second strike targeted a military equipment reception and repair center of the 77th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Korenovsk, Krasnodar Territory.
At the time of the strike, two S-300 launchers were being serviced at the site. The strike also resulted in the secondary detonation of unknown ammunition at the site. Preliminarily, 15 Russian servicemen were wounded, and another 22 are missing.
There is no information about damage to helicopters. Representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the Ukrainian government have not yet provided official comments.
ATACMS combat use
The first official use of ATACMS in the Russian-Ukrainian war was reported on October 17 during the Dragonfly Operation of the Special Operations Forces. At that time, the Armed Forces attacked airports near Berdiansk and Luhansk: Russian army aviation suffered heavy losses, including Ka-52 and Mi-8/17 helicopters.
Militarnyi reported on the consequences of the strikes on each of the airfields. For example, in Luhansk, three Ka-52 helicopters without blades and wreckage that could belong to an unknown type of helicopter were spotted.
Comparison of video and satellite image. Photo credits: Planet Labs/Tatarigami_UA
In addition, the concrete pavement of the airfield shows signs of bomblet detonation.
The video also captured a Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system in an unknown technical condition. Three other visually intact helicopters (probably Mi-8) remained at the airfield and were not evacuated. It can be assumed that they did not leave the airfield due to malfunctions caused by the damage from the debris.
Later, on October 26, information that Ukrainian ATACMS could hit elements of the S-400 SAM in the Luhansk region was released.
ATACMS motor in the Luhansk region.
Source: Twitter /@TheDeadDistrict
It is reported that a Russian Armed Forces facility near the village of Bilorichensk, Luhansk region, was hit during a strike.
Near the same village, local residents discovered two engines from ATACMS missiles, which may indicate the successful opening of a container with a cluster warhead.