Ukrainian drones ignite fires at Russian military airport

Ukrainians attacked the Russian military airport Millerovo, located near Rostov-on-Don, using at least several dozen drones. The Russians claim they shot down 26 of them, but fires at the airport indicate that some of the drones hit their targets as planned. Here’s what the Russians were storing there.

Ukrainians attacked the Russian Millerovo airport on the night of July 19 to July 20, 2024, with a swarm of drones. Even if the Russians managed to shoot down 26 of them, the effect caused by the rest that reached the target is visible. Residents reported at least 16 explosions.

The drones caused a massive fire that engulfed part of the airport where fuel tanks and the plane parking section were located. This area, shown in previous satellite images, was occupied by, among other things, Su-30SM or Su-34 aircraft. It’s worth noting that the Millerovo base is the regular station for the 31st Guard Fighter Aviation Regiment equipped with Su-30SM aircraft. Previously, the 368th Attack Aviation Regiment, flying Su-25 Frogfoot, was also stationed there.

This attack is very similar to the one on the Morozovsk airport in mid-June 2024, which aimed to disrupt the Russian air campaign of bombing Ukrainian positions detected through the so-called “meat assaults.” These assaults expose Russian troops to Ukrainian fire so that Russian commanders know which spots to bomb.

Using guided bombs from the FAB family with UMPK modules, the air force can destroy even the most potent fortifications, allowing the Russians to advance despite enormous losses. For this reason, every opportunity to destroy or damage Russian planes is invaluable for the Ukrainians.

The Russian losses remain unknown, but it’s worth noting that they have learned to evacuate threatened airports after detecting drones. Therefore, the Ukrainians may not have hit the planes that could fly away. In such a case, they might have hit machines undergoing repairs or serving as sources of spare parts for other aircraft.

The Su-30SM is a multi-role fighter developed from the Su-27 fighter, with upgrades in avionics, control systems, and weaponry. The Su-30SM features advanced aerodynamics and maneuverability, making it effective in various combat missions. The aircraft can operate both as an air superiority fighter and a strike aircraft, making it a versatile tool in the arsenal of the Russian Air Force.

This aircraft is 72 feet long with a wingspan of 48 feet, equipped with two Saturn AL-31FP engines that allow the Su-30SM to reach up to 2.35 Mach (about 1,550 mph). The plane also has large fuel tanks, providing an operational range of about 1,860 miles.

In addition to the onboard 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, it can carry armaments on 12 pylons with a total payload of 18,000 pounds. Besides air-to-air weapons, there is also a rich arsenal for attacking ground targets, including simple munitions like S-8 unguided rocket pods or Kh-25 missiles and guided bombs like the FAB-1500 with UMPK module or Raduga Kh-59 missiles with a range of over 124 miles.