Some Internet sources started sharing the information that the russian army allegedly deployed its tactical aircraft at the airfield in the occupied Melitopol in southern Ukraine. The reports claim there are as many as 22 planes currently stationed there, "mostly Su-type fighters".
Such "news" have spread throughout Ukrainian Telegram channels, with a note that "from this airfield, aviation often takes off for patrolling and combat missions across the frontline". Below you can see a screenshot of the message that likely became the primary source.
Read more: Britain Lacks Military Equipment, Ammunition And Pilots For the F-35, the Country Is Said to Be Not Ready For the War
However, if that was true, it's hardly possible for the russian planes to actually perform any combat tasks because this airfield is located only about 75 km from the "zero line". It means any GMLRS rocket fired from HIMARS can reach it without a problem with its firinng range of 84 km.
Moreover, we should take a closer look at the satellite image provided here. Presumably, it is the publicly available image from Planet Labs that was taken on January 4.
True, we can see aircraft at the apron area but even in that picture, we can clearly see these are just Il-76 transport planes. Moreover, these are the Ukrainian planes of the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade, that were left by Ukrainian forces on retreat.
To make things sure, let's add some images of a better quality from the same Planet Labs, taken on November 17 ast year and indicate there was no movement of planes at the airfield at all since then.
On a side note, we can also see that some of them were either destroyed or put out of order.
At the same time, there are no signs of any activity of russian aviation at the airfield, that is, even army aviation, i.e. helicopters, wasn't involved. The main bases of the russian aviation for now are the ones inside russia and in the occupied Crimea. The closest ones are in Dzhankoi and Kursk. They are located about 150 km afar from the border with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the airfield in Belgorod just 40 km away from the border and has seen several explosions, is not used anymore, as witnessed by the satellite imagery.
Read more: Activity at Zyabrovka Airfield in belarus: Assessing the Threat of russian Air Strikes Coming From the Hostile Air Base (Satellite Photo)
