“Russian missile attacks on Ukraine continue, but Western air defense systems provide hope”

Ukraine is constantly bombarded by new missile attacks from Russia, and has struggled to stop many of them. Now new air defense systems from Western countries are making it difficult for Moscow.

In the past month, Russia has carried out several missile attacks against the Ukrainian capital. On the night of Thursday, one person was killed in Odesa, and on the night of Friday several attacks from both cruise missiles and drones were also reported,

Nevertheless, Ukraine claims that they often escape with a few scratches.

There have been doubts about whether Ukrainian forces will be able to put down the increasing number of Russian attacks over time. Last month it was leaked US government documents, who said that Ukrainian stockpiles of Soviet anti-aircraft missiles were almost empty.

With a limited number of missiles remaining, Ukraine will have to save for the highest priority targets – Russian aircraft or missiles headed for the most vulnerable targets, according to a report from Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

Ian Williams, head of CSIS’s missile defense project, writes in the report that this may be the whole point of Russia’s frequent missile attacks recently.

– The high volume of air defense activity has undoubtedly eroded the capacity of Ukrainian air defense, and Russian tactics appear to be aimed precisely at draining Ukraine’s defense capacity.

Thousands of people have been killed as a result of Russia’s many attacks. Last autumn the first damage to critical infrastructure to that millions of civilians were left without electricity. Alexander Rodnyansky, an economic adviser to Zelenskyj, admitted to CNN in March that Ukraine’s air force is not “up to the job”.

I Defence News says Williams that the many attacks have nevertheless not had the effect Russia hoped for.

Strengthened defense

Ukraine claimed last week to have shot down 18 Russian missiles, including six Kinzal missiles. An American-developed air defense system known as Patriot was admittedly likely to suffer minor damage during the Russian attack, according to US officials.

On Friday, they claimed to have shot down a total of 19 out of 28 objects that were sent towards targets in the country, writes NTB.

– Three cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea, as well as 16 drones, were shot down, spokesman Yuriy Ihnat in the country’s air defense told Ukrainian TV.

The scaled-up defense on the Ukrainian side is largely thanks to the Patriot systems, which arrived in the war-torn country in April, according to CNN. These enable Ukraine to intercept more modern Russian missiles. Both the USA and Germany have delivered one Patriot battery each to Ukraine.

The Patriot system is considered to be among the most advanced air defense systems that the United States has developed to shoot down cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft. Typically, such a system consists of missile launch pads, radar and support vehicles.

The defense system must be so effective that Russia has promised to destroy them. Some experts believe that the large wave of attacks this month is intended to overwhelm defense systems, writes CNN.

But it is not only Patriot and old Soviet defense systems that defend Kyiv and the rest of the country. Ukraine has received several defense missiles from other NATO countries, which help to stop the airstrikes.

Can do great damage

How long Russia will be able to produce new missiles, especially considering the obstacle course of Western sanctions that block access to the necessary material, is uncertain. Williams noted that the remains of downed Russian missiles suggested they were newly manufactured, suggesting that Russia’s own arsenal is also beginning to atrophy.

However, the Kremlin is sitting on large stocks of bombs that can be dropped from planes and do great damage.

– Should Russia manage to wear down Ukraine’s air defense through exhaustion and gain air superiority, the war will become significantly more challenging for Ukraine, writes Williams.

The support from the West will therefore be decisive for the development of the war going forward. The United States has pledged an additional $1.2 billion to Ukraine to bolster Ukraine’s air defense and artillery stockpiles, and Britain confirmed last week that it would send hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

Norway has for its part donated thousands of artillery shells, as well as two air defense systems of the NAMSAMS type together with the United States.