Hidden Russian base in Crimea spotted from a satellite

Ukrainian counterattacks seem to be pushing Russian invaders towards unconventional strategies. In what appears to be a precaution against potential losses in their airpower, the Russians have established a covert and makeshift airbase in one of the Crimean beaches. This secretive establishment was detected from satellite imagery, which also helped identify the types of aircraft stationed there.

As elaborated by a Ukrainian reserve officer and an OSINT analyst operating under the pseudonym Tatarigami_UA, the Russians have opted to use one of the beaches on the Arabat Spit. They believe the Russian command shifted their helicopters from an air base in Chornomlyk as the Ukrainians advanced closer to Kherson.

Such intelligence, coupled with the released satellite images, indicates that the occupiers started building and expanding this temporary airbase around October 2022.

The satellite imagery counted 20 makeshift landing pads for Russian helicopters. It was evident they are used as takeoff and landing points for four types of helicopters: the Mi-8, Mi-24, Ka-52, and potentially, the Mi-28.

The Mi-8 is a multipurpose helicopter primarily used for troop transport. With a length of over 82 feet, it can carry up to 30 personnel or up to 8819 lbs of cargo. The newer, heavily armored Mi-24 combat helicopter was developed from it. The Mi-24 is notably asymmetrical in design, but can still reach a maximum speed of 208 mph despite its heavy armor.

The Ka-52, a two-seat attack helicopter, has been in use by the Russians since 2008. It primarily serves as an aerial platform for launching anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), being equipped to carry 9K121 Whirlwind and Attack. Additional to that, it can carry other missile types and bombs and is standardized with a built-in 2A42 30mm automatic cannon.

This serves as another demonstration of how the long-range weaponry supplied to Ukraine by Western allies impacts the strategies of the Russians, compelling them to acclimatize to the new circumstances. In October, images started to surface showcasing the ramifications of Ukrainian ATACMS missile attacks and helicopter-related damages. Similar incidents were reported near the occupied airports of Luhansk and Berdiansk. Earlier this year, Ukrainians also managed to strike the airport in Pskov, damaging four Russian military transport planes, specifically the Il-76 models.