MEGA BLITZ
Shock satellite images show Putin’s destroyed $33million fighter jets in Crimea after long-range missile blitz on base
Watch the satellite footage of the airbase before and after the strike
AT least four of Putin's warplanes have been wiped out by Ukrainian missiles in a two-day onslaught.
Satellite footage shows the aftermath of the massive explosions that ripped through the Belbek airbase in Russia-occupied Crimea on Tuesday.
8
8
8
8
8
Images, taken after Ukraine unleashed ten long-range ATACMS missiles, reveal the airbase completely obliterated as a result.
All that remained of the military aircraft was a blackened mark caused by the fire.
The powerful missiles ripped through four warplanes, annihilating at least three and putting one out of action.
Footage shows charred debris of the two MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors laying in the airfield.
read more on world news
MiG31 has a special variant - the MiG31K - which carries the hypersonic Kinzhal ballistic missile extensively used by Moscow in the war.
But, it isn't immediately clear whether the targeted aircraft were of this type.
Another Su-27 Flanker can be spotted totally destroyed in a parking bay with its remains scattered nearby.
A fourth MiG-29, seemed to have sustained significant damage from the strikes, possibly rendering it unusable.
Most read in The Sun
However, it is unknown whether the soviet era MiG-29 was operational before the attack.
The latest missile blasts represent the biggest loss for Russia's warplanes since the start of the two-year old invasion.
Ukraine unleashes 100 kamikaze drones on Putin's oil refineries in one of heaviest strikes of war
The Berbek airbase is a home to Putin's coveted Su-27 and Su-30 warplanes which the despot uses in his brutal assaults on Ukraine.
But according to analysts, Russia won't be able to utilise the base as a staging post for future attacks if strikes continue, reported.
The airfield in the annexed peninsula was struck near Vlad's Black Sea headquarters in a humiliating blow to the dictator.
Putin's regime was forced to admit they had been hit but blustered that the attack was "repelled".
Despite the claims, Ukrainian monitoring group Crimean wind reported: “An hour after the end of the missile attack on the Belbek airfield, the number of fires in the aircraft parking area became many times larger.
“And the fires themselves became stronger.”
There was reported damage to the runway and fire at the base.
The formidable ballistic missiles used by Ukraine can reach distances of up to 300 km.
Putin's lapdog in Sevastopol, governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, raged that an effort was underway to “repel an attack by Ukrainian Nazis”.
He claimed: “According to preliminary reports, air defences have already downed several projectiles over the sea and near Belbek airfield.
“All the city services have been put on high alert.
“Members of the Sevastopol rescue service have put out a fire caused by falling projectile fragments near the village of Polyushko.”
The successful blitz of Belbek has led to fury among Russian war-backers over the lack of air defence at the key base.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
One pro-Russian blogger ranted on: “Why, 27 months after the start of the air defence system [in occupied Ukraine], are our air defence systems still standing in open spaces?
“Since last fall, we have been warning that the armed forces of Ukraine will concentrate all their forces on attacks on Crimea.”
8
8
8
Topics