Strike on Russian airbase in Crimea: expert tells whether there could be Zircon missiles

He said this on Espreso TV.

"There is indeed a regiment of army aviation based there, these are Mi-28 and K-52 attack helicopters, and their use has been noticed there for a long time - this is their regular location, but satellite images, again quite old and more modern, have long shown the basing of not only helicopters, but also Su-25 attack aircraft, which Russia also uses on a regular basis to strike at the frontline areas and the previous region. That is, it is really an air base that is used by the enemy quite actively," explained Defense Express editor-in-chief.

Given the unconfirmed satellite images of Dzhankoi, it is likely that the S-400 system was destroyed. At the same time, Russia is already claiming that ATACMS ballistic missiles were used in the strike: “The important thing here is that Ukraine received them, in the March package, the only package that was in 2024, which was allocated by the United States, there was a vague wording regarding HIMARS ammunition. Technically, ATACMS is a HIMARS munition. After all, there may have been some untouchable stocks left over from the previous transfer, so the possibility of using it is quite logical and possible, that is, it is probably true.”

Probably, only two ATACMS missiles were fired, one of which hit the Russian S-400 system. Katkov suggests that if the Ukrainian military used these missiles, then there could have been a hit on aircraft at the airbase in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"As for the fact that Zircon missiles were stored at this airfield, it seems to me that this is wishful thinking. Indeed, we would like to see the Zircon missiles and the entire stockpile of them that the enemy has created, and not only them, but many other things, and especially Putin would be at this airfield during the attack, but let's be realistic. It is unlikely that these missiles would be stored in Dzhankoi, because they are most likely used from Cape Tarkhankut, where they use Bastion systems adapted for this missile," Katkov concluded.

Missiles hit military air base in Crimea

Dzhankoi airfield is an active military airfield in Crimea, where the 39th Helicopter Regiment of the 27th Mixed Aviation Division of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation is stationed. There are also three aviation squadrons with Mi-8, Mi-35M, Mi-28, and Ka-52 aircraft.

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, on the night of April 17, explosions occurred near the Dzhankoi military airfield. According to the video, a large-scale fire broke out after the explosions.

Operational Command South’s press center head Natalia Humeniuk said that the military airfield in Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea is a "legitimate target" for Ukraine.

Captain Andrii Ryzhenko, 1st Rank of the Ukrainian Navy Reserve, noted that the airfield in Dzhankoi is home to most of the attack and transport-combat helicopters used by Russia in the occupied territories. According to him, the airfield in Dzhankoi is guarded by Pantsir systems.