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Drone Strike at Russia’s Shaikovka Airbase Leaves Kh-22/32 Missile Stockpile in Ruins, Satellite Photos Confirm

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Drone Strike at Russia’s Shaikovka Airbase Leaves Kh-22/32 Missile Stockpile in Ruins, Satellite Photos Confirm
Russian Tu-22M3 equipped with Kh-32 missiles. (Photo: open source)

A drone strike destroyed a missile storage facility and a technical building used to service Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles at Russia’s Shaikovka airbase, according to the satellite imagery published by Ukrainian OSINT team “CyberBoroshno” on April 7.

The airbase, home to Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, was targeted by drones during the night of March 31, 2025.

The strike significantly damaged the base’s infrastructure, particularly a facility for preparing Kh-22/32 missiles, where fueling and launch configuration occurs.

Satellite imagery of the Russian Shaikovka airbase, caption reads Liquid fueling station for missiles (yellow, left) and technical facilities with equipment for missile preparation and maintenance (red, right). (Source: CyberBoroshno)
Satellite imagery of the Russian Shaikovka airbase, caption reads Liquid fueling station for missiles (yellow, left) and technical facilities with equipment for missile preparation and maintenance (red, right). (Source: CyberBoroshno)

According to CyberBoroshno, these missiles require liquid fuel, but satellite images show that the stationary fueling stations have vanished following the strike.

Destroyed storage facilities for the supersonic Kh-22/32 missiles were also identified at the airbase. One heavily damaged depot was located near an aircraft parking area, as confirmed by satellite imagery.

In one section of the base, the object present could not be clearly identified. Visually, it appears that it may be aircraft wreckage, though it’s also possible that it is the remains of a building.

At the time of the attack, local authorities reported that 24 drones were launched at the base and claimed that all had been successfully intercepted by air defense systems. However, they did not comment on the explosions that were heard at the facility.

Shaikovka airbase hosts Tu-22M3 strategic bombers from Russia’s 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, which has been actively involved in launching Kh-22/32 missile strikes on Ukraine.

Satellite imagery of the Russian Shaikovka airbase, the caption reads the remains of the building/plane (yellow, left), a damaged storage facility for Kh-22 missiles (red, center), an intact storage facility for Kh-22 missiles, (green, right). (Source: CyberBoroshno)
Satellite imagery of the Russian Shaikovka airbase, the caption reads the remains of the building/plane (yellow, left), a damaged storage facility for Kh-22 missiles (red, center), an intact storage facility for Kh-22 missiles, (green, right). (Source: CyberBoroshno)

Earlier, a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in Russia, with the Russian Ministry of Defense confirming that the Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region. The aircraft reportedly went down in an unpopulated area, causing no damage on the ground.

The Tu-22M3 is a long-range supersonic bomber developed during the Soviet era. It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons and is primarily used by Russia for strike missions, including launching Kh-22 supersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine.

Preliminary reports indicate that four crew members were on board. During the crash, the aircraft struck a power line, causing power outages in two nearby villages.

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