Ukraine ATACMS Strike Near Russia Aviation Hub in Overnight Attack

War
Post At: Jul 19/2024 07:50PM

Ukrainian forces appear to have launched their latest strike on occupied Russian areas overnight using U.S.-made ATACMS missiles, possibly to again target an aviation hub previously used as a repair center for Russian military equipment.

Images and videos posted to social media early on Friday showed explosions followed by plumes of smoke rising over the occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk. OSINT social-media accounts geolocated the footage to the southeastern part of the city in the area of the Luhansk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators.

Russian state-run media reported that three ATACMS missiles were downed by air defenses but did not address reports of impacts. Images published by state media and shared on social media showed what appeared to be ATACMS debris on the ground close to the site of the reported explosions. Newsweek has not been able to verify these.

Yuriy Yurov, a member of the Russian-puppet Luhansk separatist parliament, wrote on Telegram: "It's loud in Luhansk. Ukrainian fascists have fired missiles at the city. Air defense is working. Explosions can be heard." He added: "As a result of falling debris, a fire broke out in the forest belt. There were no dead or injured."

South Korea's military launches an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) during a military exercise at an undisclosed location in South Korea, on March 24, 2022. Ukraine has been using the U.S.-made weapon to hit targets... South Korea's military launches an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) during a military exercise at an undisclosed location in South Korea, on March 24, 2022. Ukraine has been using the U.S.-made weapon to hit targets deep inside Russian-held territory. South Korea Defense Ministry via AP

Yurov ascribed the plumes of smoke over the city to "the fire of trade modules and construction waste over a large area," dismissing reports that the blazes were a result of successful missile impacts.

Ukraine's Ukrinform media outlet reported up to 12 explosions in Luhansk. Roman Vlasenko, the head of the Severodonetsk District Military Administration, told the outlet that the blasts were "in the area of the former aviation school. Locals report plumes of smoke in that direction. The rest will be known later."

Newsweek has sent an email to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.

Ukrainian forces have targeted the Luhansk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators before, reportedly using the kind of Western-supplied weapons that have so rankled the Kremlin.

In May 2023, British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles were reportedly used to hit the facility and nearby industrial sites. The area was also targeted in May 2024.

Reports have suggested that the Luhansk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators has been serving as an important base for Russian-controlled separatist military forces, as well as a repair hub for damaged equipment.

Ukraine first used the U.S.-made ATACMS in October 2023, first wielding the cluster munition iteration of the warhead before being supplied with the longest-range, unitary version from spring 2024. Aviation hubs and helicopter bases have been among the targets of the weapon, for which Kyiv lobbied Washington, D.C., for almost two years.

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