Millerovo air base explained

Millerovo
Ensign:Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg
Ensign Size:100px
Location:Millerovo, Rostov Oblast
Country:Russia
Type:Air Base
Pushpin Map:Russia Rostov Oblast#Russia
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Rostov Oblast, Russia
Pushpin Label:Millerovo
Ownership:Ministry of Defence
Operator:Russian Aerospace Forces
Controlledby:4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
Used:Unknown - present
Battles:2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Elevation:147m (482feet)
R1-Number:08/26
R1-Length:2976m (9,764feet)
R1-Surface:Concrete

Millerovo is an air base in Millerovsky District, Rostov Oblast of the Russian Aerospace Forces as part of the 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army, Southern Military District.

The base is home to the 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment which has two squadrons of Sukhoi Su-30SM (NATO: Flanker-H) .

The 368th Assault Aviation Regiment, with Sukhoi Su-25's (NATO: Frogfoot), also deployed to Millerovo as part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

History

By 2022, the airbase housed 31st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment with two squadrons of Sukhoi Su-30SM (NATO: Flanker-H).[1] [2] and the 368th Assault Aviation Regiment with Sukhoi Su-25's (NATO: Frogfoot).[3]

Attacks

See main article: Millerovo air base attack. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022–24, the airbase has been attacked twice by Ukrainian forces.

On 25 February 2022 reports began circulating, alongside an amateur video showing burning military installations, that Millerovo Airbase had been attacked and damaged by two Tochka-U ballistic missiles launched from Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to impede Russian forces from using the airbase to provide air support to Russian troops in Ukraine.[4] There was no subsequent official confirmation from the Ukrainian or Russian armed forces regarding such an attack.

On the night of 19-20 July 2024, the Russian governor of the Rostov Oblast, Vasily Golubev, reported some 26 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the night of 19-20 July with no casualties. Other sources, local social media, quoted locals who reported some sixteen explosions near the air base, fires were reported near the base's "runway and airport apron" as well as a local oil depot.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Russian Air Force today - Russian Southern Military District. Eastern Order of Battle. 19 February 2022.
  2. Book: AirForces Monthly. March 2022. Key Publishing Ltd. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. 42.
  3. Book: AirForces Monthly. December 2022. Key Publishing Ltd. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. 30.
  4. Web site: Russian airfield targeted by Ukrainian forces, geolocated social media video and images show. 25 February 2022. CNN. 26 February 2022.
  5. Web site: Russians claim large-scale UAV attack on Rostov Oblast, airfield on fire – videos . OLHA HLUSHCHENKO . 19 July 2024 . 2024-07-20 . Ukrainian Pravda.