Ukraine’s drone attack on Moscow on Monday reveals a critical weakness in Russia’s defense systems, a Ukrainian military officer believes.
Russia said on Monday that Ukraine carried out a drone attack on the capital Moscow, with one drone targeting an area near the headquarters of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says no lives were lost during the attack.
Here you can read everything about the war in Ukraine
It is still unclear whether the drones aimed to attack the Ministry of Defense, but the Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriyj Yusov has promised that the attacks will continue, and increase in scope, writes Newsweek.
Russia has accused Ukraine of terrorism as a result of the latest attack.
Watch video: Here the Wagner group trains in Belarus:
Weakness
Security forces examine a bridge near a damaged building after what is believed to have been a drone strike in Moscow, July 24, 2023. Photo: Maxim Shemetov / Reuters / NTB
Juriyj Ihnat, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Air Force, says that the Pantsir defense system installed on the roof of the Russian Ministry of Defense, located about 300 meters away from one of the targets of the attack, failed to shoot down the drone attacks.
He explains that the Pantsir system is only capable of firing at objects located above it, rather than below it, thus leaving a vulnerability in Russia’s air defense systems in Moscow.
According to journalist Mark Krutov, images from earlier this month show that the Pantsir systems were still in place in July.
What is the Pantsir system?
The Pantsir system was reportedly installed in January after Ukraine carried out a drone strike against a target within Russian borders, an attack which has reportedly raised concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to future attacks.
(The article continues below the picture)
The Russian Pantsir air defense system, here on a truck, during a rehearsal for a 2021 parade. Photo: AP / NTB
Photos and videos were posted on social media earlier this year showing the defense systems on the roofs of government buildings in the Russian capital.
While other systems may have a stronger firepower, the Pantsir system should be more ideal in cities.
The system is intended for use at close range and contains a mixture of anti-aircraft guns and missiles capable of intercepting high-speed air-to-ground missiles at a range of seven kilometers.
The Pantsir system is also said to have been placed near the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2023-07-25 17:20:02
#Ukraine #Reveals #critical #weakness #Russias #defenses
