Status: 07.08.2023, 20:42 p.m.
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
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The Russian army is targeting the city of Starokostyantyniv. (Archive image) © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Attacks by Putin's soldiers are gradually focusing more and more on the city of Starokostyantyniv. This is probably related to the air force presence.
Kyiv – In the Ukraine war, dozens of cities in Ukraine are repeatedly the target of Russian attacks, especially at night. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's soldiers are using drones and missiles to bombard both military and civilian targets. Recently, the attacks have also increasingly targeted the city of Starokostyantyniv in western Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Russia attacks western Ukrainian city over base
Actually, the city with just under 30,000 inhabitants, which is located far away from the currently active front line, does not seem to have much importance. However, a closer look shows that there is an air base in Starokostyantyniv, which is of great importance for the Ukrainian military, as the Ukrainian publication The Kyiv Post describes.
The Starokostyantyniv base is the home of the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Forces. Among other things, the brigade flies the Su-24M attack aircraft. Especially at the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, these aircraft took on a very important task and were instrumental in saving Kyiv from being captured by the Kremlin's troops.
Attacks on Starokostyantyniv base: Su-24M aircraft prevented capture of Kyiv
At the beginning of the invasion, dozens of footage showed Russian paratroopers landing in the middle of the Ukrainian capital and making their way to Hostomel airfield to take over the military base there. It was precisely on these Russian paratroopers that the Su-24M aircraft from Starokostyantyniv dropped unguided bombs, inflicting heavy losses on Putin's troops.
At the same time, Russia was actually aware of how dangerous these aircraft could be for the planned occupation of Ukraine. However, the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was warned by NATO, which had relevant information. Thus, the planes were distributed to other bases throughout Ukraine in order to minimize the risk of destruction of the machines.
Storm-Shadows from Great Britain enable safe use of Su-24M attack aircraft
However, the use of the Su-24M aircraft carried a risk anyway, because the aircraft with their short-range missiles and unguided bombs had to get very close to the enemy in order to be able to target him. But the Storm Shadow missiles from Great Britain have brought about a turnaround. Thanks to the British cruise missiles, Ukraine's Su-24M aircraft can now fire at Russian enemies from a greater - and, most importantly, safer - distance.
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In order to put an end to the Storm Shadow attacks, which have also hit Crimea annexed by Russia in recent months, the Russian military is now stepping up attacks against Starokostyantyniv. After all, with the destruction of the corresponding fighter jets, Ukraine would have fewer opportunities to fire the Storm Shadows. After the Starokostyantyniv base was last attacked on May 29 and July 26, the third Russian attack followed last weekend.
Russia attacks Starokostyantyniv three times and fails
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the base was shelled on Sunday (6 August) with 20 Kh-101/555 and 27 Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones. However, despite the massive attack, Russia again failed and could not destroy the planes. Apparently, the Su-24M machines were created from the base in a timely manner.
"This is not the first time this airfield has been attacked," The Kyiv Post quoted Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat as saying. But the aviation and pilots as well as the rest of the team are "quite mobile". Since it has more air bases in operation in Ukraine, Russia will not be able to eliminate the Ukrainian fighter jets so easily. (bb)