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Defense News about East #MediterraneanSea Region by @BabakTaghvaee. I wrote for BBC & RFE/RL in the past. Now for @PtisiMagazine, @IsraelHayomHeb & @AFMonthly

Aug 9, 2022, 13 tweets

#BREAKING: Two sources from #Ukraine confirm that #Ukrainian Navy has conducted a cruise missile strike at #Saki Air Base, the largest base of #RussianNavy Aviation at #Crimea which is now home of 10 Su-30SM and five Su-24M/MRs of 43rd Independent Naval Assault Aviation Regiment.

At the moment of missile strike at #Saki Air Base, at least two third of Su-30SM multirole fighter jets of #RussianNavy's 43rd Independent Naval Assault Aviation Regiment were present (in the ramp or maintenance area).

When the #Ukraine war was started the #RussianNavy's 43rd Independent Naval Assault Aviation Regiment had at-least 19 fighter jets, tactical bombers and reconaissance jets comprising 12 Su-30SMs, 5 Su-24Ms & 2 Su-24MRs. Two of the Su-30SMs were later shot-down.

According to Russian media,#Saki air base of #Russian Navy Aviation has now been evacuated following the missile strike of #Ukraine. The surviving aircraft of 43rd Independent Assault Aviation Regiment are flown to Gvardeyskoye air base in North of Simferopol, #Crimea.

This is said to be the most recent satellite image of #Saki Air Base taken this morning before the attack. It shows at-least one Il-76MD transporet aircraft of the #RussianAirForce and also eight Su-30SMs and six Su-24M/MRs present at the base before the attack.

This video shows one of the Su-24MR tactical reconnaissance aircraft in service of the 43rd Independent Assault Aviation Regiment of #RussianNavy destroyed in the main apron of #Saki Air Base as a result of the cruise missile strike of #Ukraine Navy today.

A number of APA-5D starters and also refueling trucks can be seen totally destroyed next to the main ramp of #Saki Air Base of #Russian Navy as a result of the cruise missile attack of #Ukraine Navy today.

This satellite image taken after the missile strike of #Ukraine at #Saki Air Base show that almost all the aircraft of 43rd Independent Assault Aviation Regiment of #RussianNavy present in the base are destroyed by the direct hit of the missiles or by their shrapnels.

#Russian Air Force Bases in #Crimea could be the next targets of the incoming missile strikes of #Ukrainian Navy. The #Gvardeyskoye, home of 37th Guards Composite Aviation Regiment & #Belbek, home of 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Satellite images taken today show that the 43rd Independent Assault Aviation Regiment of #Russian Navy has not evacuated its surviving aircraft from #Saki after the missile attack of #Ukraine Navy. You can see two surviving Su-30SMs & a Tu-134UBL crew trainer parked on taxiways.

A higher quality satellite image released by the Planet Labs show that the 43rd Independent Assault Aviation Regiment of #Russian Navy has lost at-least four Su-30SMs & four Su-24M/MRs in #Saki Air Base yesterday. So, the regiment has now six Su-30SMs & three Su-24M/MRs left.

Those who are unfamiliar with the work of air defense systems Blame S-400 SAM battalion of #Russian Air & Space Force in Yevpatoria to be incapable of stopping the cruise missile attack of #Ukraine at #Saki but in fact, the Tor M1/2 batteries guarding the base failed do their job

The #Ukrainian cruise missiles which were used to target #Saki Air Base of #Russian Navy in #Crimea yesterday flew all of their ways from South of #Odessa to there at a low altitude, 3 to 10 meters from sea level! So, it was the job of short-range air defense systems to hunt them

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