By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies

Kursk, Russia – August 11, 2024 – As Ukraine’s surprise invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast unfolds, Ukrainian forces are making a concerted effort to neutralize the Khalino Air Base, a key military installation located just 50 miles from the front line of the incursion. The air base, situated in the city of Kursk, hosts the Russian air force’s 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment and plays a crucial role in Russia’s military operations in the region.

Since the Ukrainian assault began on August 6, Khalino has become a focal point for Ukrainian military strategy. The base, which is equipped with 24 Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter bombers capable of carrying heavy KAB glide bombs, has been targeted twice in the past 11 days. The KAB bombs, which can weigh up to three tons and have a range of 25 miles or more, are used extensively by the Russian air force to strike Ukrainian positions.

The significance of Khalino is underscored by its proximity to Sudzha, the border town that was the site of the initial Ukrainian advance into Kursk Oblast. The Ukrainian military has intensified its attacks on Khalino in the days leading up to and following the invasion. On July 31, just days before the incursion, Ukrainian Neptune cruise missiles struck Khalino’s ammunition depot, causing substantial damage and potentially destroying stockpiles of KABs.

1/3 Aftermath of the Ukrainian strike on ammunition depot near Russian Khalino air base in Kursk on July, 31rd, as seen on July 5th @planet HR satellite image. According to rumors, the strike was carried with a modified 'Neptune' missiles, not drones. https://t.co/WqrmsZJoF6 pic.twitter.com/rB3HTRxnJQ

— Mark Krutov (@kromark) August 6, 2024

The Ukrainian military’s campaign against Khalino is part of a broader strategy to weaken Russian air support and logistical capabilities. Since February 2022, Ukrainian forces have targeted the base multiple times, including a drone raid in December 2022 that ignited a fire at the base’s fuel depot and an attack using unique cardboard drones.

The intensity of the Ukrainian strikes has escalated in recent weeks. On August 10, a Ukrainian missile aimed at Khalino reportedly fell short, striking an apartment building in Kursk and injuring 13 Russian civilians. Despite this setback, Ukrainian forces continue to push forward, having captured nearly 400 square miles of Kursk Oblast since the invasion began.

The base’s proximity to the front line—just 65 miles from the border—puts it within reach of a range of Ukrainian deep-strike weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles. As the Ukrainian forces maintain control of the territory adjacent to the border, the threat to Khalino is expected to grow. Ukrainian forces could potentially utilize shorter-ranged ground-launched rockets, such as the M30/31s fired by American-made High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), to increase pressure on the base.

However, it remains uncertain whether the Ukrainian military will deploy its HIMARS systems so close to the front lines, given the high value and limited number of these assets. Nonetheless, the ongoing attacks on Khalino highlight the strategic importance of neutralizing key Russian military facilities in the conflict.

As the situation in Kursk Oblast remains fluid, the international community watches closely, with hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict and a reduction in the impact on civilian populations.