Lutsk Air Base Explained

Lutsk/Lutsk North
Ensign:Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:100px
Location:Lutsk, Volyn Oblast
Country:Ukraine
Pushpin Map:Ukraine Volyn Oblast#Ukraine
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Volyn Oblast
Pushpin Label:UKLC
Ownership:Ministry of Defence
Operator:Ukrainian Air Force
Controlledby:Air Command West
Fate:Destroyed in 2022
(Acc. to Ukrainian officials)
Battles:2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Icao:UKLC
Elevation:195m (640feet)
R1-Number:06/24
R1-Length:2500m (8,200feet)
R1-Surface:Concrete
Pushpin Relief:yes
Module:
Wikidata:yes
Marker:airport
Zoom:13
Frame-Height:260
Stroke-Width:1

Lutsk is an air base of the Ukrainian Air Force located near Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. Previously closed in 2006, the air base was reopened for works in 2014 and since 2018 housed the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade that currently operates Mikoyan MiG-29M/UB and Aero L-39C Albatross aircraft.[1]

History

It was home to 806th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (806 APIB) which flew Su-17 aircraft as recently as 1992. It currently serves as storage base for Sukhoi Su-24 bombers. From 1945 to 1992, the regiment was part of the 289th Division of the 57th Air Army, then the 14th Air Army, then the Air Forces of the Carpathian Military District, then the 14th Air Army once more. The airport use was abandoned in 2006.[2] In 2018 it was revived and became the home of the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which was before the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea based in Belbek Airport.[2]

The base was the target of Russian airstrikes by Russian armed forces on 27 February and 11 March 2022.[3] In the first attack four Su-24 that were stored were destroyed.[4] In the second attack four soldiers died and six more were wounded,[5] while the airbase was completely destroyed, according to the town mayor.[6]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ukraine Air Force. Scramble.nl. 26 February 2022.
  2. NOT SWORN IN: HOW THEY MET THE SEVASTOPOL TACTICAL AVIATION BRIGADE AT A NEW LOCATION, Channel 5 (09/21/2018)
  3. News: Ukraine war: Large Russian convoy redeploys near Kyiv - satellite images. BBC News. 11 March 2022. 11 March 2022.
  4. Web site: ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 291876. Aviation Safety Network. 24 February 2022.
  5. Web site: ЛУЦЬКИЙ АЕРОДРОМ ЗРУЙНОВАНИЙ ВЩЕНТ, – ІГОР ПОЛІЩУК. Volyn News. 10 February 2024. 11 March 2022.
  6. Web site: The military airfield in Lutsk, which was hit by four enemy missiles on March 11, has been completely destroyed, Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk has said.. 12 March 2022. Ukrinform.