Ukraine appears to have destroyed a Russian space communications center in attacks on Crimea. The facility, codenamed NIP-16, was used by Moscow for communications and early warning
On Monday, local social media chats reported explosions near the Crimean village of Vitino, where the center is located. Such reports cannot be independently verified.
Damage to large main antenna
American-made ATACMS missiles are said to have been used in the attacks. Images suggest the system has suffered extensive damage; the large main antenna would also have been affected.
Ukraine became the center after the end of the Soviet Union
The Center for Long-Range Space Communications was built by the Soviet Union in the 1960s to support the Soviet space program. The trajectories of Soviet space rockets were measured. After the end of the Soviet Union it fell into the hands of Ukraine, but they hardly used it.
After the illegal occupation of Crimea, NIP-16 was placed under the command of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces. It is said to have played a key role in communicating with all Russian spacecraft, including military satellites.
Source: Krone
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