In an operation conducted at dawn on April 17, Ukrainian forces attacked the military airfield in Dzhankoi, occupied Crimea, inflicting severe damage to the air defense systems there. The strike, which allegedly used American ATACMS missiles, resulted in the destruction of multiple launchers of the S-400 system and radar equipment.
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The attack began at 3:30 AM, Kiev time, and caused intense explosions that lit up the sky, as observed in satellite images captured by the VIIRS/Suomi NPP, which highlight the extent of the devastation.
Dzhankoi is crucial for Russian military operations in the region, housing a vast fleet of combat aircraft and related infrastructure. In response to the attack, Russian authorities stepped up security measures, including closing roads and increasing air patrols, aiming to protect remaining personnel and equipment.
Emerging images from the site show the charred remains of the air defense systems that previously guarded the airfield. The loss of these critical systems represents a significant blow to the Russian military presence in Crimea and underscores the effectiveness of Ukrainian forces in neutralizing significant threats.
S-400 Triumf System
The S-400 Triumf system, also known by NATO as the SA-21 Growler, is a long-range air defense system developed by Russia. Considered one of the most advanced anti-aircraft missile systems in operation, it was designed to engage a wide range of air targets under intense electronic warfare conditions and in a saturated attack environment.
The S-400 is capable of hitting aircraft, drones, and ballistic and cruise missiles at distances up to 400 kilometers and at altitudes up to 30 kilometers. One of its distinctive features is its ability to track and engage up to 36 targets simultaneously with up to 72 missiles, thanks to a combination of radars of different bands that provide high detection capacity and accuracy.
Photo: reproduction Twitter @visegrad24. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
