Ukraine is constantly being bombarded with new missiles from Russia, and has struggled to stop many of them. Now new air defense systems from Western countries make it difficult for Moscow.
- Russia has carried out eight missile attacks on Ukraine in the past three weeks.
- Ukraine has strengthened its air defense thanks to supplies from the western side, making it even more difficult for Moscow.
- The US Patriot system and supplies from NATO countries bolster Ukraine’s defenses, but experts believe Russian attacks are trying to overwhelm the systems.
- Western support will be crucial to the evolution of the war.
Last month, Russia launched several missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital. On Thursday night, one person was killed in Odessa, and on Friday night several cruise missile and drone attacks were reported,
However, Ukraine claims that they often get away with a few scrapes.
There were doubts about whether Ukrainian forces would be able to quell the increasing number of Russian attacks over time. It was leaked last month US government documents, Who said that the Ukrainian stockpiles of Soviet anti-aircraft missiles were almost empty.
With a limited number of missiles left, Ukraine will have to provide the highest-priority targets — Russian aircraft or missiles destined for the most vulnerable targets, according to report from Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Ian Williams, head of the CSIS Missile Defense Project, writes in the report that this may be the whole target of Russia’s frequent missile attacks lately.
The high volume of air defense activity has undoubtedly eroded Ukraine’s air defense capability, and Russian tactics appear to be specifically aimed at depleting Ukraine’s defensive capability.
Thousands of people have been killed as a result of the numerous attacks by Russia. Last fall, the first damage was done to critical infrastructure for millions of people Civilians were left without electricity. Zelensky’s economic adviser, Alexander Rudnyansky, admitted to CNN in March that the Ukrainian Air Force was “not up to the task”.
in Defense News Still, Williams says, the numerous attacks have not had the effect Russia hopes.
reinforced defense
Last week, Ukraine claimed to have shot down 18 Russian missiles, including six Kinzhals. According to US officials, a US-developed air defense system known as Patriot was likely to suffer minor damage during the Russian attack.
On Friday, they claimed to have shot down a total of 19 of the 28 objects sent toward targets in the country, NTB writes.
– Three cruise missiles were shot down from the Black Sea as well as 16 drones, Air Defense spokesman Yuriy Ikhnat told Ukrainian TV.
The defense boost on the Ukrainian side is largely credited to the Patriot systems, which arrived in the war-torn country in April, according to The Guardian. CNN. These enable Ukraine to intercept more modern Russian missiles. The USA and Germany each delivered one Patriot battery to Ukraine.
The Patriot system is one of the most advanced air defense systems developed by the United States to shoot down cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft. Typically, this system consists of missile launchers, radar and support vehicles.
The defense system must be so effective that Russia has promised to destroy it. Some experts believe that the large wave of attacks this month is intended to overwhelm defense systems, according to CNN.
But it is not only Soviet and Patriot defense systems that defend Kiev and the rest of the country. Ukraine has received many defensive missiles from other NATO countries, which helps stop air strikes.
It can cause great harm
It is uncertain how long Russia will be able to produce new missiles, especially given the obstacle course of Western sanctions preventing access to necessary materials. Remnants of downed Russian missiles, Williams noted, indicate that they were newly manufactured, indicating that Russia’s own arsenal is also beginning to atrophy.
However, the Kremlin is sitting on a large stockpile of bombs that can be dropped from planes and cause significant damage.
– If Russia can wear down the Ukrainian air defense through exhaustion and gain air superiority, the war will become much more difficult for Ukraine, writes Williams.
So support from the West will be crucial for the future development of the war. The United States pledged an additional $1.2 billion to Ukraine to bolster Ukraine’s stockpile of air defense and artillery, and Britain confirmed last week that it would send hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.
Norway For its part, it donated thousands of artillery shells, as well as two NAMSAMS air defense systems with the United States.
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