Millerovo air base attack
{{Short description|Missile attack during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Millerovo air base attack
| width =
| partof = the spillover in Western Russia of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| date = {{start date|df=yes|2022|2|25}}
| place = Millerovo air base, Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, Russia
| coordinates = {{Coord|48|57|08|N|40|18|08|E|type:event_region:RU|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Russia Rostov Oblast
| map_label = Millerovo
| status =
| combatant1 = {{flag|Ukraine}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Russia}}
| units1 = {{armed forces|Ukraine}}
| units2 = {{armed forces|Russia}}
- {{air force|Russia}}
- 22px 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
- 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-reportedly-strikes-russian-airbase|title=Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian airbase|access-date=3 March 2022|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226181351/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-reportedly-strikes-russian-airbase|url-status=live}}
| strength1 = {{plainlist|
- Several OTR-21 Tochka
}}
| strength2 = {{plainlist|
- Two squadrons of Su-30SM{{cite web|url=http://www.easternorbat.com/html/russian_air_force_eng.html|title=Russian Air Force today – Russian Southern Military District|publisher=Eastern Order of Battle|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008202146/http://www.easternorbat.com/html/russian_air_force_eng.html|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=March 2022|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=42}}
}}
| casualties1 = None
| casualties2 = One Su-30SM destroyed
Several people wounded
Ukrainian claim:
At least two Su-30SMs destroyed
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
| result =
}}
On 25 February 2022, the Russian air base in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, Russia, was attacked by Ukrainian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to some Ukrainian officials, Ukrainian military forces attacked the Millerovo air base with OTR-21 Tochka missiles, destroying Russian Air Force planes and setting the airbase on fire.{{Cite news|last=Dutton|first=Jack|date=25 February 2022|title=Russian Military Base Blown Up as Ukraine Fights Back|work=Newsweek|url=https://www.newsweek.com/russian-military-base-blown-ukraine-fights-back-1682558|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225075915/https://www.newsweek.com/russian-military-base-blown-ukraine-fights-back-1682558|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=25 February 2022|title=Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Millerovo with Tochka-U|work=RostovGazeta|url=https://rostovgazeta.ru/news/politics/25-02-2022/vooruzhennye-sily-ukrainy-atakovali-millerovo-tochkoy-u|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225073113/https://rostovgazeta.ru/news/politics/25-02-2022/vooruzhennye-sily-ukrainy-atakovali-millerovo-tochkoy-u|url-status=live}}
Background
Millerovo is a town in Rostov Oblast in Russia, about 60 kilometers from Luhansk, a territory in the Donbas region bordering Russia and partially Russian-rebel held since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Attack
A local law enforcement agency source told local outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda that a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile had hit the facility. Another local outlet, Rostov Gazeta, reported that the attack was carried out by Ukrainian armed formations.{{Cite web |last=Lonas |first=Lexi |date=25 February 2022 |title=Ukrainian forces target Russian airfield near border: report |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/595815-ukrainian-forces-target-russian-airfield-near-border-report |access-date=27 February 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227190745/https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/595815-ukrainian-forces-target-russian-airfield-near-border-report |url-status=live }}
Analysis
Editor-in-chief edition of Ukrainian largest online media Censor.net Yuriy Butusov called the attack "One of the most successful Armed Forces of Ukraine operations in the history of war" and "defeat, which Putin will not be able to hide".{{Cite web |title=Україна у відповідь на обстріл українських міст завдала ракетного удару по російській авіабазі Міллерово — Бутусов |url=https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-zsu-zavdali-raketnogo-udaru-po-aviabazi-millerovo-novini-ukrajini-50220081.html |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=nv.ua |language=uk |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226203829/https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-zsu-zavdali-raketnogo-udaru-po-aviabazi-millerovo-novini-ukrajini-50220081.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Бутусов |first=Юрій |date=2022-02-25 |title=Юрій Бутусов: Одна з найуспішніших операцій ЗСУ в історії війни |url=https://news.obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics/odna-z-najuspishnishih-operatsij-zsu-v-istorii-vijni.htm |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=OBOZREVATEL NEWS |language=uk |archive-date=10 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310115604/https://news.obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics/odna-z-najuspishnishih-operatsij-zsu-v-istorii-vijni.htm |url-status=live }}
The attack, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not officially comment on, was reportedly launched in response to the shelling of Ukrainian cities by Russian forces.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Aftermath
Multiple people were reported to be wounded,{{Cite news|date=25 February 2022|title=Residents of Rostov Oblast reported shelling of the Millerovo military airbase|work=Caucasus.Realities|url=https://www.kavkazr.com/a/voennye-sily-ukrainy-nanesli-udar-po-aerodromu-v-rostovskom-millerovo-smi/31722581.html|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=3 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303210251/https://www.kavkazr.com/a/voennye-sily-ukrainy-nanesli-udar-po-aerodromu-v-rostovskom-millerovo-smi/31722581.html|url-status=live}} and one pilot reportedly died later of his wounds.{{cite web |title=Во время спецоперации погиб пилот, служивший в Ростовской области |url=https://donday.ru/vo-vremja-specoperacii-pogib-pilot-sluzhivshij-v-rostovskoj-oblasti.html |website=Donday |language=Russian}} At least one Sukhoi Su-30SM was destroyed on the ground per tweeted images.{{cite web|url=https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/ukrainian-missile-strike-destroyed-russian-sukhoi-su-30sm-at-millerovo-airbase/27610/|title=Ukrainian missile strike destroyed Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM at Millerovo|work=World Fighter Jets|date=25 February 2022|access-date=26 February 2022|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226105235/https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/ukrainian-missile-strike-destroyed-russian-sukhoi-su-30sm-at-millerovo-airbase/27610/|url-status=live}} However, Ukrainian officials and military experts have claimed that at least two Russian Su-30SM fighters were destroyed on the ground.{{Cite news|last=Gabedava|first=Tatyana|date=25 February 2022|title=Ukraine in response to the shelling of Ukrainian cities launched a missile attack on the Russian airbase Millerovo -Butusov|work=Novoye Vremya|url=https://nv.ua/ukraine/events/vtorzhenie-rossii-v-ukrainu-vsu-nanesli-raketnyy-udar-po-aviabaze-millerovo-novosti-ukrainy-50220081.html|access-date=25 February 2022|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226203650/https://nv.ua/ukraine/events/vtorzhenie-rossii-v-ukrainu-vsu-nanesli-raketnyy-udar-po-aviabaze-millerovo-novosti-ukrainy-50220081.html|url-status=live}}
File:NASA FIRMS 2024-07-20 Millerovo.png's FIRMS imagery from 20 July 2024 00:01:00 (UTC) showing fires at Millerovo air base]]
The airfield was bombed again by Ukraine on 20 July 2024 in a drone strike, with several fires seen on the runway by locals.{{Cite web|date=2024-07-19 |title=Millerov airfield burns in Rostov region after drone attack {{!}} УНН |url=https://unn.ua/en/news/millerov-airfield-burns-in-rostov-region-after-drone-attack |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=unn.ua |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
Category:February 2022 in Russia
Category:History of Rostov Oblast
Category:Attacks on airbases in Russia
Category:Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2022
Category:Ukrainian airstrikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:Military operations involving airports
Category:Military operations of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022