The newly published satellite imagery revealed the damage caused as a result of the recent missile attack on the Crimean peninsula. On the night of May 15, the city of Sevastopol and its outskirts came under another massive attack of the US-made ATACMS missiles.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, then, Russian air defense forces repelled at least 10 ATACMS missiles. The local sources reported that the city was targeted by about 16 missiles and some of them managed to break through Russian defense.
Likely the main target of the massive attack was the Belbek military airfield located on the outskirts of Sevastropol. That night, a fire was confirmed at the facility. The footage showed the missiles hitting the airfield.
The new satellite imagery showed the damage at the airfield as a result of the attack. Several ATACMS missiles with cluster warheads struck the parking and a building on the territory of the airfield. As a result, two MiG-31, one Su-27 aircraft were destroyed and one MiG-29 was damaged. The destroyed building was reportedly a fuel depot that burnt out as a result of the strike.
Russian air defense forces are doing a pretty good job of dealing with massive strikes by moderns NATO missiles, coordinated by NATO reconnaissance drones operating in the Black Sea area; but, of course, some missiles are capable of hitting targets on the peninsula. For the second time in recent months, the Belbek military airfield has come under missile attack. In February, several Storm Shadow missiles struck at the facility. Thus, various Russian experts and military observers are wondering why the necessary defense has not yet been built at the strategically important airfield, which is located in the strike zone of enemy missiles. After more than two years of the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian military has yet to build special defensive structures to protect its rear airfields from attacks by Ukrainian drones and NATO missiles. Newly appointed Russian Defense Minister Belousov should definitely pay special attention to this issue.