Chuhuiv air base attack

Chuhuiv Air Base attack
Part of Eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Chuhuiv Air Base, in 2008
Date 24 February 2022 (2022-02-24) Location Chuhuiv, Chuhuiv Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine 49°50′24″N036°38′50″E / 49.84000°N 36.64722°E / 49.84000; 36.64722 Result Russian victory Aircraft, fuel tanks and infrastructure destroyed
Belligerents
Ukraine	Russia
Units involved
Armed Forces of Ukraine	Russian Armed Forces
Casualties and losses
6 L-39 attack trainers destroyed or damaged 1 MiG-29 destroyed 4 Bayraktar TB-2 drones destroyed	None
class=notpageimage| Location within Ukraine Show map of Ukraine Chuhuiv air base attack (Kharkiv Oblast) Show map of Kharkiv Oblast

On 24 February 2022, the Chuhuiv Air Base in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine was the target of an air strike by Russian forces as part of the eastern Ukraine offensive during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Background

The Chuhuiv air base is located in the city of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine. The air base was capable of housing Baykar Bayraktar TB2 drones, as did the military airfields in Starokostyantyniv and Mykolaiv. ^[1]

Attack

In the opening hours of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, a Russian missile attack targeted the Chuhuiv air base. ^{[2] [3]} Following the attack, the US-based space technologies' company Maxar published satellite images depicting damage resulting from the missile strike. ^{[4] [5]} According to open-source intelligence information, the attack left damage to fuel storage areas and other airport infrastructure. ^[6] Also, at least six L-39 jet trainers, parked at the air base, were either destroyed or heavily damaged. ^[7] One MiG-29 crashed as well. ^[8] Four Bayraktar TB2 drones were abandoned at the base and later destroyed on the ground by Ukrainian forces, amid reported Russian rocket attacks. ^[9]

Later attacks

On 10 April 2022, Russian officials claimed their forces targeted Ukrainian S-300 air defences present at Chuhuiv airbase. ^[10]

References

1. "Turkish Bayraktar TB2 Patrolling Ukrainian Border". Defense Express. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
2. "Ukraine: Video appears to show aftermath of missile strike on air base in Chuhuiv". Sky News. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
3. "Satellite images show the aftermath of air strikes on a Ukrainian airfield after Russia's invasion". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 February 2022.
4. "War Damage In Ukraine, Seen From Above And On The Ground". Radio Liberty Free Europe . 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
5. Chelsea Gohd (25 February 2022). "Satellite photos reveal details of Russian invasion into Ukraine". space.com.
6. Sheetz, Michael (24 February 2022). "Satellite imagery shows Russian attack on Ukraine from space". CNBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
7. "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 275907". aviation-safety.net. 24 February 2022.
8. "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 365443". aviation-safety.net. 24 February 2022.
9. "Кримінальні справи (з 01.01.2019); Кримінальні правопорушення проти встановленого порядку несення військової служби (військові кримінальні правопорушення); Умисне знищення або пошкодження військового майна". Ukrainian Tribunal (in Ukrainian). 12 December 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023.
10. "Украинские ЗРС С-300 уничтожены в Николаевской области и на военном аэродроме Чугуев - Минобороны РФ (версия 2)". Intefax Ru. 10 April 2022.