The Ukrainian army launched a powerful strike against a Russian base in Belbek, outside Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea. Using ten American-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) rockets, the assault targeted the base’s critical air defense systems and military assets, causing substantial damage.
The G7 summit in Italy coincided with this attack, where world leaders signed a security agreement to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the pact as a long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lauded the agreement as unprecedented, reflecting the international community’s support for Ukraine.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that these strikes are part of Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russian air defenses in anticipation of the arrival of U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets. Photographic evidence from the ground confirmed that the ATACMS rockets destroyed a radar and two launchers from an S-400 air-defense battery and damaged four warplanes at a nearby airfield. The Russian military quickly replaced the damaged S-400 components, but Ukraine’s ongoing attacks aim to continually degrade these defenses.
Early Wednesday morning, Ukrainian forces successfully struck another Russian S-400 battery in occupied Crimea with at least one MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missile.
The strike destroyed the unit’s engagement radar, a 92N6 Grave Stone, generator unit, and one 51P6 TEL. pic.twitter.com/qiWQu5PXRI
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 13, 2024
Ukraine’s sustained efforts against Russian air defenses in Crimea are seen as a precursor to the operational deployment of the promised F-16s. Kyiv’s pilots are currently training in NATO countries, preparing to utilize the new aircraft effectively. Despite delays and logistical challenges, the F-16s are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, significantly enhancing Ukraine’s air capabilities.
The ISW noted that Ukraine’s systematic targeting of air-defense systems aligns with a broader strategy to establish air superiority. This would enable more effective deployment of the F-16s, making Russian air defenses and aircraft vulnerable to precision strikes. Frank Ledwidge, a senior lecturer in Law and War Studies at Portsmouth University, emphasized that the F-16s would attract Russian defenses but could also deliver decisive blows if protected by Ukrainian ground operations.
For the first time in the history of this war, R-416GM, a modern russian mobile communication station, was destroyed by @SOF_UKR operators. pic.twitter.com/bHWbtz3m3H
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 13, 2024
Recent strikes have shown Ukraine’s capacity to penetrate and damage Russian defenses. On Tuesday, another barrage of ATACMS missiles targeted S-400 and S-300 batteries in Belbek, destroying additional radars and launchers. These continued assaults could significantly weaken Russia’s defensive posture in Crimea and along the front lines.
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