Ukrainian Drones Damage Russia's Millerovo Airbase

The base, near Rostov, about 150 km from the front, houses bombers, helicopters and other attack aircraft. Evidence suggests serious damage to fuel storage and maintenance areas. 

The attack again shows that Ukraine is making strategic decisions regarding target prioritization. JL

Defense Express reports:

Overnight July 20th, the Millerovo airbase in russia became the target of a large-scale drone attack by Ukrainian Defense Forces. This Russian airfield, located 150 km from the current frontline, in the Rostov region, is actively used by Russia to deploy tactical bombers, attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and more. At least two facilities - maintenance and fuel storage - critical to the functioning of the entire Base, were most certainly disabled.

Overnight July 20th, the Millerovo airbase in russia became the target of a large-scale drone attack by Ukrainian Defense Forces. This russian airfield, located 150 km from the current frontline, in the Rostov region, is actively used by the russian invasion army to deploy tactical bombers, attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and more.

The strike was reported by the local authorities saying all 26 Ukrainian drones were successfully intercepted by air defenses. However, the visual evidence portrays a completely different situation. First of all, a large-scale fire was recorded at the airfield by NASA's fire monitoring satellite service.

Fires and/or thermal anomalies on spotted at the Millerovo air base / Imagery credit: NASA FIRMS

Secondly, local residents filmed the airfield and shared the footage on social media, which gives a little more information about the real strike aftermath from a different angle.

For instance, the video above was taken from south of the air base, in the immediate vicinity. The first frames show a fire at the aircraft fuel storage area.

 

The cameraman's angle of view / Illustrative satellite imagery credit: Google Earth, Maxar

Next, the picture shifts and captures the maintenance area, where aircraft are serviced and repaired, and a fire can be seen there, too.

Thus, at least two facilities, critical to the functioning of the entire Millerovo Air Base, were affected and most certainly disabled.

Illustrative reference for the areas presumably affected by the drone strike on the Millerovo air base / Open-source images

Now, let's take one more look at the imagery provided by the fire monitoring service. The highlighted areas include open-air apron where the aircraft are usually parked, allowing for a possibility that combat aircraft and helicopters were hit as well.

Lastly, a confirmation of these assertions requires high-quality satellite photos which should be available within a couple of days. This will also allow not only re-assess the losses or damage inflicted to the russian Aerospace Forces but also the effectiveness of drones used in the aerial attack by Ukranians.