Explosions reverberated throughout the pre-dawn sky as Ukrainian air defences fended off a Russian assault on this small metropolis in western Ukraine, house to an necessary air base and a frequent goal of Moscow’s strikes.
Hours after the assault, the tidy streets of Starokostiantyniv had returned to a semblance of normality.
But the June 27 assault was a stark reminder of the challenges Kyiv faces because it rebuilds its depleted air power and deploys the primary U.S.-designed F-16s – fighter plane that Russia can be decided to floor or destroy.
The first planes are anticipated to reach this month, and Ukraine hopes they may enhance forces struggling to repel a Russian onslaught alongside the entrance line, which incorporates devastating glide bombs that F-16s might probably disrupt.
Officials haven’t revealed the place the F-16s can be based mostly, however Moscow mentioned after the strike on Starokostiantyniv final Thursday that it had focused airfields it believed would home them.
The air base has come below frequent assault because the first days of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, together with from drones and hypersonic missiles.
Residents of this historic army outpost of round 30,000 individuals, nicknamed Starkon, in Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi area have realized to regulate to the fixed hazard.
“In short, it’s ‘fun’ to live here,” mentioned metropolis official and native tradition professional Vasyl Muliar with a wry smile, talking after the latest assault.
A Ukrainian air power spokesman mentioned the strikes introduced “certain difficulties”, however wouldn’t undermine the supply of F-16s or their use in battle.
Separately on Tuesday, Russia’s defence ministry mentioned it had destroyed 5 Ukrainian SU-27 fighter jets at Myrhorod airfield in Poltava area. Ukraine mentioned the declare was exaggerated.
Military analysts mentioned the Russians have been in all probability concentrating on air base infrastructure reminiscent of runways and storage amenities to make getting F-16s airborne harder, and, after they arrive, the Western jets themselves.
The Ukrainian army, which is low on air-defence ammunition, can be more likely to be pressured to maneuver the prized planes round airfields, mentioned Justin Bronk, of the Royal United Services Institute.
“Any ground-based air defence coverage can be saturated if the Russians care enough to fire enough missiles at one target,” he mentioned.
Source: www.anews.com.tr