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​Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Hits Berdyansk Airport with Storm Shadow Missile, russia Deploys 50,000 Soldiers to Bakhmut and the Loss of Il-22M Impacts russian Operations

Russian Ilyushin Il-22M airborne command post aircraft / open source
Russian Ilyushin Il-22M airborne command post aircraft / open source

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit Berdyansk airport, where russians had established base for attack helicopters

The AFU StratCom officially announced that as a result of the strike on the airfield in Berdyansk (Zaporizhzhia region), the headquarters and fuel depot were successfully destroyed.

The Berdyansk City Military Administration has reported 11 explosions, documented fires and detonations within the temporarily occupied territory of the Berdyansk airport Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Hits Berdyansk Airport with Storm Shadow Missile, russia Deploys 50,000 Soldiers to Bakhmut and the Loss of Il-22M Impacts russian Operations
The Berdyansk City Military Administration has reported 11 explosions, documented fires and detonations within the temporarily occupied territory of the Berdyansk airport / screenshot from video

Furthermore, the russians have already showcased the remnants of the missile employed in the attack. The photo captures specific components belonging to the Storm Shadow cruise missile, produced by MDBA.

Read more: Chronicle of the russian federation Crimes in Ukraine (June 2023)

According to satellite imagery, the russians have established a base for attack helicopters at the Berdyansk airport.

Advances Made East of Krasnohorivka Signify Crucial Progress in Ukrainian Assaults

The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces have made small advances east from the village of Krasnohorivka, near Donetsk city, which sits on the old Line of Control.

The moment of explosion of the suicide tank from RPG Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Hits Berdyansk Airport with Storm Shadow Missile, russia Deploys 50,000 Soldiers to Bakhmut and the Loss of Il-22M Impacts russian Operations
The moment of explosion of the suicide tank from RPG / open source

This is one of the first instances since the beginning of the full-scale invasion that Ukrainian forces have highly likely recaptured an area of territory occupied by russia since 2014.

The russians are building fortifications, laying minefields, and already concentrated a grouping of 50,000 soldiers and more than 300 tanks near Bakhmut

Serhii Cherevaty, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reports that the enemy has as many as 50,000 soldiers, more than 300 tanks, 330 different artillery systems and about 140 MLRS on the Bakhmut direction.

The russians on the Bakhmut direction Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Hits Berdyansk Airport with Storm Shadow Missile, russia Deploys 50,000 Soldiers to Bakhmut and the Loss of Il-22M Impacts russian Operations
The russians on the Bakhmut direction / open source

The primary force within the enemy group concentrated in this particular direction consists of motorized rifle and airborne assault units belonging to the russian army. These units are further reinforced by what is commonly referred to as “territorial troops” and elements from the BARS (Combat Army Reserve of the Country). Additionally, the group includes members from the Veterans PMC (Private Military Company), which was established by the Ministry of Defense of russia.

Loss of Ilyushin Il-22M airborne command post aircraft impacts russian air and land operations

On June 24, air defence forces of the Wagner private military company reportedly shot down russian military helicopters and an Ilyushin Il-22M airborne command post aircraft.

The loss of this aircraft is likely to have a negative impact on russian air and land operations. In the short term the psychological shock of losing a large number of aircrew in this manner will almost certainly damage morale within the russian Aerospace Force.

Ukraine’s military have shown how german MAN HX81 is retrieving T-72 tanks (photo)

The press service of the 4th Separate Tank Brigade shared information about their technical unit on Facebook. The brigade showed how German MAN HX81 tank transporter can be used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The plans for the transfer of these vehicles from Berlin became known in September 2022.

The evacuation of the T-72 tanks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine using German MAN HX81 truck, summer 2023 Defense Express Defense Express’ Weekly Review: Ukraine Hits Berdyansk Airport with Storm Shadow Missile, russia Deploys 50,000 Soldiers to Bakhmut and the Loss of Il-22M Impacts russian Operations
The evacuation of the T-72 tanks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine using German MAN HX81 truck, summer 2023 / Photo credit: The press service of the 4th Separate Tank Brigade
Read more: Chronicle of the russian federation Crimes in Ukraine (May 2023)