Operation Dragonfly

{{Infobox military conflict

|partof=Russo-Ukrainian War

|image=

|date=October 17, 2023

|conflict=Operation Dragonfly
{{langx|uk|Операція «Dragonfly»}}

|place=Luhansk International Airport and Berdiansk Airport {{flagicon|Ukraine}}

|combatant1={{flag|Ukraine}}

|combatant2={{flag|Russia}}

|units1={{flagicon image

|Ensign_of_the_Ukrainian_Armed_Forces.svg}} Ukrainian Armed Forces

|units2={{flagicon image|Banner_of_the_Armed_Forces_of_the_Russian_Federation_(obverse).svg}} Russian Aerospace Forces

|casualties1=None

|casualties2=According to Ukraine: at least 9 helicopters
a surface-to-air missile
several special vehicles
Supply depots and airport runways damaged

}}

Operation Dragonfly（{{langx|uk|Операція «Dragonfly»}}）was an operation conducted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on October 17, 2023 during the Russo-Ukrainian War, where it focused on striking logistical points that the Russian military used for supplying efforts.

History

This operation mainly targeted the Luhansk International Airport in the east and Berdiansk Airport in the south.{{Cite web |title=Operation "Dragonfly". Successful operation of the Ukrainian SOF to attack Berdyansk and Luhansk Airfields. |url=https://twitter.com/defenceu/status/1714247717327667363 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017202418/https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1714247717327667363 |archive-date=2023-10-17 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=}} During the operation, the Special Operations Forces used MGM-140 ATACMS for the attack, which led to the heavy losses of helicopters of the Russian Air Force.{{Cite web|last=Oryx|title=Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine|url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html|access-date=2023-10-22|website=Oryx}} The Ukrainians also succeeded in destroying the airport runways, numerous supply depots, and even some air defense systems.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=Операція Dragonfly. ЗСУ знищили ворожі гелікоптери, ППО та спецтехніку під час атаки аеродромів у Бердянську та Луганську — Forbes.ua |url=https://forbes.ua/news/operatsiya-dragonfly-zsu-znishchili-vorozhi-gelikopteri-ppo-ta-spetstekhniku-pid-chas-ataki-aerodromiv-v-berdyansku-ta-lugansku-17102023-16722 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017154505/https://forbes.ua/news/operatsiya-dragonfly-zsu-znishchili-vorozhi-gelikopteri-ppo-ta-spetstekhniku-pid-chas-ataki-aerodromiv-v-berdyansku-ta-lugansku-17102023-16722 |archive-date=2023-10-17 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=forbes.ua |language=uk}} The Ukrainians also claimed to have caused manpower losses, but it cannot be confirmed.{{Cite news |author=Robert Greenall |date=17 October 2023 |title=Ukraine 'destroys Russian helicopters in Berdyansk and Luhansk' |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67135163 |accessdate=2023-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020102333/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67135163 |archive-date=2023-10-20}}

The fires created due to the burning of equipment at the Berdiansk Airport was visible from NASA's FIRMS. According to Russia, there were shrapnel of M74 Bomblets found at the scene,{{Cite web |title=Воевода Вещает |url=https://t.me/ZOV_Voevoda/1725 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019234837/https://t.me/ZOV_Voevoda/1725 |archive-date=2023-10-19 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Telegram}}{{Cite web |title=Воевода Вещает |url=https://t.me/ZOV_Voevoda/1724 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020125201/https://t.me/ZOV_Voevoda/1724 |archive-date=2023-10-20 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Telegram}} which likely originated from the ATACMS Block IA (M39A1) that the Ukrainians used for the attack. More shrapnel found later proved that the Ukrainians used ATACMS for the operation.{{Cite web |title=Well, something extraordinary happened- the remains of M39 missiles (Made in 1996 and 1997) of the MGM-140A ATACMS Block I system used by Ukrainian forces against Berdyansk AB. |url=https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1714286709654143332?s=20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017154124/https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1714286709654143332?s=20 |archive-date=2023-10-17 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=}} which is likely the first time that it has been used in Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Luxmoore |first=Michael R. Gordon, Nancy A. Youssef and Matthew |title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Ukraine Fires ATACMS Missile at Russian Forces for the First Time |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-fires-atacms-missile-at-russian-forces-for-the-first-time-3bebcdb1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020163151/https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-fires-atacms-missile-at-russian-forces-for-the-first-time-3bebcdb1 |archive-date=2023-10-20 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}} Prior to this incident, there had been fears from American leaders that the supply of ATACMS would lead to an "escalation of tensions", which American Ben Hodges criticized has "created sanctuary for the Russians".{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=Joe |date=2023-01-19 |title=US still holds back long-range ATACMS missiles from Ukraine |url=https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2023/01/19/us-still-holds-back-long-range-atacms-missiles-from-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Defense News |language=en}}