Did Russia move helicopters away the front following Ukraine's missile attacks?

Russia has allegedly moved nearly two dozen of its combat helicopters away from air bases close to the frontlines in Ukraine to safer positions farther away in Russia according to one analyst’s reporting. 

Satellite imagery studied by military analyst Brady Africk and posted to Twitter suggests that 21 helicopters from an airbase in Berdyansk were relocated to an airfield in Russia. 

Photo Credit: Twitter @bradyafr

The airfield is located in the Sea of Azov port city of Taganrog. The images published by Africk revealed the sudden large presence of helicopters and equipment at the airbase.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons / Wikimedia Maps / OpenStreetMaps

“This base is one of several used by Russian aircraft operating over Ukraine,” explained Africk, adding that at least 21 helicopters were visible in satellite images taken on October 30th.

It’s possible the helicopters at the airbase in Taganrog are the same ones Moscow had removed from Berdyansk after a successful Ukrainian missile attack on October 17th. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons / Wikimedia Maps / OpenStreetMaps

American-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles made their debut in Ukraine when they were used to destroy five helicopters in Luhansk and nine in Berdyansk according to The Hill. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Unknown author - https://sill-www.army.mil

Ukrainska Pravda reported that helicopters were removed from Berdyansk's airbase on October 29th two weeks after the airfield was struck by Ukraine with ATACMS missiles. 

As many as 21 helicopters might have been taken out by Ukraine's attack according to Forbes, which cited analysis from the volunteer geolocating platform Geoconfirmed. 

Geoconfirmed’s analysis noted the ATACMS attacks on Berdyansk and Luhansk were “probably the biggest blow to the Russian air force since the beginning of the war.” 

Unfortunately, the news that Russia may have moved helicopters from Berdyansk to an airfield in Taganrog isn’t all good. It shows that Russia still has a very power helicopter fleet in the area. 

Sofiia Syngaivska of Defense Express explained that the Kremlin’s relocation “suggests that Russia is still operating a large number of attack helicopters in the region.” 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Alex Beltyukov

“The relocation of the helicopters could also be a sign that Russia is planning to launch new attacks on Ukrainian forces in other areas,” Syngaivska continued. 

Moscow may also be using Taganrog to repair the helicopters that were damaged in the October 17th attacks since the base also has an aircraft repair according to Syngaivska.

Ukrianska Pravda noted that it is not known if the helicopters moved to Taganrog were transported overland or if they were in a condition that could fly to the airbase in Russia. 

Taganrog is roughly 160 miles from the Ukrainian frontlines near Robotyne according to Euromaidan Press, which added that the extra distance would affect the helicopters. 

The distance “doubles the approach time of Russian attack helicopters and increases fuel consumption for maneuvering,” wrote Serge Havrylets, a situation that will only help Ukraine's embattled frontline units in Zaporizhia