Photo: ATESH

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian troops have begun construction of defences at the Saki airfield near the village of Novofedorivka. This should protect their aircraft from possible attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was reported by the ATES guerrilla movement on Telegram on Friday, 27 December.

Exploration and data transmission

The ATES movement agents recorded construction work, special equipment, and the exact number and types of aircraft at the airfield. They also identified the locations of air defence systems covering the facility. All information was passed on to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

What is known about Saki airfield

The military airbase is home to Russia’s 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment, equipped with Su-24M and Su-30SM aircraft. This facility has already been targeted by the Ukrainian military, which has repeatedly launched successful attacks against the occupiers in the area.

The occupation authorities in Crimea are taking measures to strengthen the peninsula’s defence following a series of strikes on strategic military facilities in 2023-2024. The construction of defensive structures at the Saki airfield indicates growing concerns on the part of the Russian military about the effectiveness of Ukrainian attacks.

The Ukrainian military continues to collect intelligence and weaken the defence capabilities of the occupiers in Crimea, preparing the ground for the de-occupation of the peninsula.