Strana 30
Ukraine claimed further successes in
the Kursk region, stating they had also hit
aircraft, though only the aforementioned
losses are confirmed. By the end of the period,
a photo surfaced of a severely damaged
MI-8MTV-5 helicopter, likely suitable only
for cannibalization for spare parts. This may
be the helicopter struck by the FPV drone
mentioned earlier.
Indirectly related to the war in Ukraine was
the loss of a Tu-22M3 bomber on Thursday,
August 15, near Mikhailovka in the Irkutsk
region, due to an accident. These aircraft are
heavily used in attacks on Ukrainian cities, and
the high operational pace leads to the crew
and material fatigue, increasing the number
of accidents. The aircraft bore the designation
RF-94238 with fuselage number “Red 78.”
Its four-member crew ejected before the crash,
but navigator Nikita Jerevalov did not survive.
Attacks on the Airports
In addition to air losses, Russia’s air force
also suffered ground damage. The Ukrainian
offensive against Russian airports continued
successfully. On Friday, August 2, a massive
drone attack hit the Morozovsk airbase in
the Rostov region. Extensive fires broke out,
hitting a munitions warehouse, and a Su-34
fighter-bomber burned down on the tarmac.
On Friday, August 9, Ukrainian drones
targeted the Lipetsk airbase in the Lipetsk
region, adjacent to Kursk. A strong explosion
forced the evacuation of residents from four
neighboring villages. Ukraine claimed its
drones hit a warehouse containing 700 glide
bombs.
This Russian convoy on the way to the Kursk region was destroyed by Ukrainian missiles. In the chaos at the start
of the offensive, however, several convoys were hit by the Russians themselves, even by Ka-52 helicopters.
Another Ka-52 was shot down on August 10, when it was hit at close range
by portable missiles.
A Su-34 that burned down on August 2 at the Morozovsk base. Ammunition depot destroyed on August 2 at the Morozovsk base.
Wreckage of a Tu-22M3 bomber with tail number "red 78," which crashed
on August 15 in the Irkutsk region.
A heavily damaged Russian Mi-8MTV-5 helicopter,
which had to make an emergency landing sometime
in August, though further details are unknown.
UKRAINE
INFO Eduard30
October 2024