On the Crimean peninsula

Ukraine strikes a blow against space infrastructure

ATACMS missiles are said to have damaged the space communications center codenamed NIP-16.(Bild: AP)

Ukraine has apparently destroyed a Russian space communications center during attacks on the Crimean peninsula. The facility, codenamed NIP-16, was used by Moscow for communication and early warning purposes

On Monday, local social media chats reported explosions near the village of Witino in Crimea, where the center is located. Such reports cannot be independently verified.

Damage to large main antenna
US-made ATACMS missiles are said to have been used in the attacks. Pictures suggest that the facility has suffered major damage - the large main antenna is also said to have been affected. 

Ukraine received center after the end of the Soviet Union
The Centre for Long-Range Space Communications was built by the Soviet Union in the 1960s to support the Soviet space program. It measured the trajectories of Soviet space rockets. After the end of the Soviet Union, it fell into the hands of Ukraine, which 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.