Lutsk Air Base

Lutsk (ICAO: UKLC) is an air base of the Ukrainian Air Force located near Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. Previously closed in 2006, the air base was reopened for works in 2014 and since 2018 housed the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade that currently operates Mikoyan MiG-29M/UB and Aero L-39C Albatross aircraft.[1]

Lutsk/Lutsk North
Lutsk, Volyn Oblast in Ukraine
Lutsk air base in Western Ukraine in June 2013
UKLC is located in Volyn Oblast
UKLC
UKLC
Shown within Volyn Oblast
UKLC is located in Ukraine
UKLC
UKLC
UKLC (Ukraine)
Coordinates50°47′0″N 025°21′0″E
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorUkrainian Air Force
Controlled byAir Command West
Site history
FateDestroyed in 2022
(Acc. to Ukrainian officials)
Battles/wars2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: UKLC
Elevation195 metres (640 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06/24 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) Concrete

History

It was home to 806th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (806 APIB) which flew Su-17 aircraft as recently as 1992. It currently serves as storage base for Sukhoi Su-24 bombers. From 1945 to 1992, the regiment was part of the 289th Division of the 57th Air Army, then the 14th Air Army, then the Air Forces of the Carpathian Military District, then the 14th Air Army once more. The airport use was abandoned in 2006.[2] In 2018 it was revived and became the home of the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which was before the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea based in Belbek Airport.[2]

The base was the target of Russian airstrikes by Russian armed forces on 27 February and 11 March 2022.[3] In the first attack two aircraft resembling Su-24 were destroyed according to commercial satellite imagery. In the second attack the airbase was completely destroyed according to the town mayor.[4][5]

References

  1. "Ukraine Air Force". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. (in Ukrainian) NOT SWORN IN: HOW THEY MET THE SEVASTOPOL TACTICAL AVIATION BRIGADE AT A NEW LOCATION, Channel 5 (09/21/2018)
  3. "Ukraine war: Large Russian convoy redeploys near Kyiv - satellite images". BBC News. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. Axe, David (7 April 2022). "Where Are Ukraine's Bombers?". Forbes.
  5. "Ukrainian military airfield southwest of Kyiv completely destroyed by Russian strike, mayor says". CNBC. March 12, 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
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