Satellite images reveal devastation at Russian air base attack
The CyberBoroshno Group has released satellite images from the attack on the Shaykovka air base conducted on March 31, 2025. We present the damage and explain why Raduga Kh-22 missiles are so dangerous.
The images show hits on the technical area (marked in red) used for servicing and preparing missiles before launch. One facility was completely destroyed, and another was damaged by shrapnel.
In contrast, the fueling infrastructure, which disappeared after the attack, is marked in yellow. It's worth noting that Raduga Kh-22 missiles use liquid rocket fuel, which is very corrosive, so they can't be stored in a fueled state and are only fueled before launch. Furthermore, in the second image, the hit storage of Raduga Kh-22 missiles is marked in red, and the destroyed one in yellow.
The result of the attack was the immobilization of the airfield's infrastructure and the destruction of several missiles, potentially thwarting Russia's plans to carry out another act of terror against civilians.
Tu-22M3 and Raduga Kh-22 missiles - one of the nightmares of Ukrainian defense
Raduga Kh-22 missiles are supersonic cruise missiles designed during the Soviet era to sink ships such as aircraft carriers. A key aspect is their very high speed for this type of weapon, reaching Mach 3 (about 1,000 metres per second). Combined with the ability to fly at an altitude of nearly 40 metres, this creates a weapon that is very difficult to defend against.
This is particularly problematic in the absence of AWACS aircraft, as ground-based radars have a range limited to about 40 kilometres due to the radar horizon. This flight characteristic means that operators of anti-aircraft systems have very limited time to react.
Moreover, not all missile systems can catch up with the Kh-22. In practice, to combat them, Ukraine needs the few available Patriot, SAMP/T batteries, and the remaining S-300 systems.
Kh-22 missiles are carried by Tu-22M strategic bombers, as they weigh nearly 6,000 kilograms, with about 1,000 kilograms accounting for the conventional warhead, although there were also variants with a thermonuclear warhead. Missile guidance includes inertial navigation initially supplemented by a terrain contour matching system, and in the final flight phase, precision is ensured by an active radar head.
