Russian air defense base in Crimea attacked this morning: Unit commander killed

Archive photo: Russian air defense base on Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea was attacked (Russian media)

The Russian air defense base on Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea came under fire this morning, May 13. As a result, the commander of the unit may have been killed, according to ASTRA.

Military unit 85683 was attacked with missiles, possibly Storm Shadow, at six in the morning.

"There is a secret military air defense base of the 3rd Radio Technical Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces on the mountain," ASTRA writes.

As a result, the military unit was damaged, and the unit's commander, Aleksandr Kulakov, and another occupier were killed. In addition, there are wounded, their number is being clarified.

Background

This morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that air defense systems had allegedly intercepted four Storm Shadow airborne guided missiles and seven drones over the territory of Crimea.

Base

ASTRA writes that in the Soviet years, the Radio Technical Center for Long-Range Reconnaissance and Guidance of Air Defense Forces was established on the top of Mount Ai-Petri. The ball-shaped domes of the radar's protective structures often attracted the attention of tourists.

Earlier, journalists wrote that radar complexes are located under the domes, and a military camp for those who maintain these facilities is located nearby.

"The 3rd Radio Engineering Regiment is a military formation as part of the radio engineering troops of the Russian VKS. It was formed in 2014 after the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation based on the 40th Radio Engineering Brigade of the Air Force of Ukraine. The headquarters is located in Sevastopol," the journalists add.

Strikes on Russians in Crimea

The Ukrainian military periodically strikes at the Russian occupiers' targets in Crimea. Drones and long-range missiles are used for this purpose. Recently, ATACMS missiles were used to strike the airfield in Dzhankoy.

Defense Express wrote that the main targets for ATACMS ballistic missiles in Crimea are Russian air defense and airfields.