Victorious news of 784th day of war: military airfield hit in Crimea, Mi-8 destroyed in Samara

Germany initiates search for additional air defense systems for Ukraine

On April 17, the German government launched an initiative to find and provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems. This is reported by Tagesschau.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have appealed to NATO partners, the European Union, and third countries with an initiative to provide Ukraine with more assistance with air defense equipment as soon as possible. 

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized the need to once again take a serious look at whether there are additional systems available that can be quickly provided to Ukraine, as immediate delivery is needed now.

Ukrainian drones attack radar in Mordovia

The Container over-the-horizon radar in Mordovia, 680 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, was attacked by drones. On the morning of April 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a UAV had been shot down over the territories of the Republic of Mordovia and Tatarstan. Later, it was reported that Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian military unit in the town of Kovilkino. According to the sources, it was a special operation of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate.

The target of the UAV strike was the 29B6 Container over-the-horizon radar with a target detection range of about 3,000 km and a detection height of more than 100 km. 

Explosions heard near military airfield in Dzhankoi

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, on the night of April 17, explosions occurred near the Dzhankoi military airfield.

The Crimean Wind monitoring channel, citing its own sources, reports that two MGM-140 ATACMS missiles struck the S-400 Triumph system.

"The second strike hit a military equipment reception and repair center. At the time of the strike, there were two S-300 missile systems there, after which the detonation of ammunition began. There are also 15 wounded and 22 missing," the channel reports.

Photo: Crimean Wind

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

"The military airfield in Dzhankoi belongs to the 39th Helicopter Regiment of the 4th Air Force of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation. This airfield is known for the fact that most of the attack and transport-combat helicopters used by the enemy in the occupied territories, in the south of our country, are located there. There are 20 to 40 aircraft at this airfield. These are mostly Mi-8, Mi-28, and Ka-52 helicopters," Ryzhenko explained.

Ukrainian drones attack aircraft factory in Tatarstan

On April 17, the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate attacked an aircraft plant in Tatarstan, Russia, with drones. According to LIGA.net, citing its own source, the target was the Gorbunov aircraft plant in Kazan, where Russian manufactures and repairs Tu-22M and Tu-160M bombers.

Local media reported that before the explosions, an air raid siren went off in the area of the Kazan aircraft plant. Simultaneously with the siren, the evacuation of personnel from the plant began.

Mi-8 destroyed at Samara airfield

The Main Intelligence Directorate reported that on Wednesday, April 17, a Mi-8 transport helicopter was destroyed in the Russian city of Samara. The helicopter was destroyed at the Kryazh airfield.

"The aggressor used this helicopter in the war against Ukraine to transport weapons and personnel," the intelligence emphasized, adding that the cost of this type of helicopter could be between $10 and $15 million.