Ukraine’s ⁣Strategic Airstrikes:‌ Targeting Russian Airfields with Drones

The⁤ Ukrainian Air Force⁢ detected 11 Tu-95MS strategic bombers in Russian airspace at around 5:00⁣ a.m. on August 26. In less than three hours, Ukraine suffered the largest airstrike⁣ since the conflict began ‍in February 2022, with 127 missiles and 109 drones launched into Ukraine.

To attack Ukrainian cities ‍far from the front line, Russia uses strategic bombers and fighters deep inside⁣ Russian territory, along with ground-based launchers placed closer to the border.

With the US missile strike ban ​still in⁣ effect deep ⁤inside Russian territory, to minimize the⁤ possibility of Russia launching mass attacks, Ukraine is forced to use domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to target Russian airports and​ launch sites.

Over the past year, Ukraine has managed to significantly increase the⁤ number of domestically produced UAVs, which are now capable ⁤of hitting targets 1,800km away, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.

With dozens of Russian airfields under Ukrainian bombardment, Russian forces‍ are forced to look for new solutions to protect their aircraft, pulling them‍ further out‌ of Kiev’s range.

The Power of Ukrainian UAVs

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said on August 13 that two ⁤of Russia’s five airports in the Crimean peninsula, annexed by⁤ Russia in ​2014, were operating “at⁣ minimum capacity” due to continuous attacks by Ukrainian forces.

Peter Layton, a former Australian⁣ Air Force officer, said that if Ukraine​ continues to attack airports in Crimea, ⁢Russia will be forced to stop using these facilities.

Although Ukraine⁢ has succeeded in neutralizing some Russian airfields, Russia‌ still has many more. Russia operates 42 airfields, including those in Belarus and the Crimean peninsula, ⁣of which 28 can accommodate strategic bombers and fighters, former military officer and defense expert‌ Viktor Kevliuk told Kyiv Independent.

According to Military Balance‍ 2024 statistics, Russia still has more than 1,000 combat ‍aircraft and many ​airports are still out of range​ of Ukraine.

A military intelligence source⁢ familiar with‌ Ukrainian operations in the Russian-controlled area said ‍Ukraine ‍carried out at least five⁤ attacks on Russian airfields ‍in August.

On August 14, Ukraine launched its largest airstrike ​against Russia to date. Ukrainian drones attacked four airfields, including Savasleyka, located nearly 665km from the Ukrainian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 117 drones and four tactical missiles. Ukraine did not disclose what equipment was used in the attack.

Although hundreds of drones are launched by Ukraine, only a few usually reach their targets, attacking Russian aircraft, runways, ammunition or fuel depots.

Kevliuk compared Ukraine’s recent attacks to “mosquito bites.”‌ However, he still‍ assessed the effectiveness of Ukraine’s airstrikes as “acceptable,” given the types of weapons​ used and the consequences‍ they caused.

Defense expert Andrii Kharuk said that Ukraine’s use of tactics to attack Russian air bases‍ appeared⁤ to be effective. However,⁣ the results are difficult ‌to assess because satellite ‍imagery does not clearly show the full extent ‌of the destruction caused by these​ attacks.

“In any case, ‍to some extent it is easier to destroy or damage a Russian aircraft carrying guided bombs in‍ the air⁣ at an airfield⁤ than to attack an aircraft in Russian airspace, several dozen kilometers from the front line,” Mr. Kharuk said.

“Airstrikes⁢ on airports may have ⁢been considered inappropriate at some point​ when we did not have enough drone resources. Now, when we see hundreds of Ukrainian drones‌ attacking targets at night, they can definitely attack ⁢airports and hit their planes,” Kharuk⁤ added.

One of the biggest ‌drawbacks of drones is ⁢their speed. According to Mr. ​Kharuk, drones can be detected hours before an attack, giving enemy planes and helicopters time to deploy to shoot them down.

Changing Strategy

Ukraine’s ⁣use of drones⁣ to target Russian airfields has forced Russia to change its strategy. With dozens of airfields under attack, Russia is being forced to look for new solutions ⁣to protect its aircraft.

As the ​conflict continues, Ukraine’s use of drones is likely to‌ play an increasingly important role in its military strategy. With the‌ ability to hit targets‌ 1,800km away, Ukraine’s drones⁢ are a game-changer in the conflict.

While the results of Ukraine’s airstrikes are difficult to assess, one thing is​ clear: Ukraine’s use of drones has forced Russia to change its strategy ⁤and has given Ukraine a new advantage in the conflict.