Ukraine goes into action after blitzkrieg of 300 Russian missiles

Patriot air defense missile system made in the US (Illustration: Rubryka).

According to the Kyiv Post, during Christmas and New Year, the world witnessed an unprecedented attack on Ukrainian cities by 300 Russian ballistic and cruise missiles. This blitzkrieg was complemented by raids by more than 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which caused damage in Kiev, Dnipro, Lvov and Odessa.

As attacks on urban areas continue, Kiev faces a dilemma of choosing whether to shield civilians or protect its soldiers on the front lines.

Ukraine has chosen to deploy most of its air defenses to protect its cities. Without this “umbrella,” Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines are vulnerable to Russian airstrikes.

Commentators often point to Ukraine’s limited achievements on the ground. However, objectively, in a context lacking both air superiority and air defense superiority, Ukrainian ground forces are performing exceptionally well, something that NATO forces, including the US military, seem incapable of.

Ukrainian ground commanders were forced to disperse troops and equipment to avoid losses, making it difficult, if not sometimes "suicidal", to concentrate forces, move to the front and even engage the enemy.

In any modern conflict, airspace protection over the battlefield is one of the prerequisites for conducting offensive operations and regaining territory. Lack of air defense will greatly affect the ability to operate in maneuver.

If the US continues to hesitate in providing military support to Ukraine, this vicious cycle will continue.

The US and the West have supplied more than 25,000 man-portable air defense missiles (MANPADS), but with a range of only 2-3km, MANPADS were never designed to protect large battlefields.

Unfortunately, MANPADS are often the only air defense weapons Ukraine has available to protect the entire front line, severely limiting maneuver options.

In fact, Ukraine made the most of what it had, spreading its air defense systems to cover as much airspace as possible, while implementing avoidance, counterattack and ambush tactics, causing no small amount of damage to Russian aircraft.

With great ingenuity, Ukrainian engineers have even modified NATO missiles to fire from former Soviet systems, including captured Russian launchers. But even these engineering marvels are not enough to fill the gaps.

What Ukraine urgently needs is not only an increase in the number of air defense weapons, but also the ability to connect these systems and sensors into an integrated nationwide air defense network.

A Ukrainian IRIS-T SLM air defense missile system (Photo: General Staff of the Ukrainian Army).

The US-made long-range Patriot missile system – which has proven its prowess by shooting down numerous Russian missiles, including the hypersonic Kinzhal – forms the basis of Ukraine’s air defenses. But to be fully effective, they need the support of other, more mobile and shorter-range air defense systems, forming a multi-layered, multi-layered network of fire.

NASAMS - Norway's advanced air defense missile system - is a viable solution, as it uses NATO's AMRAAM missile and is capable of connecting dispersed batteries. So is the German-developed IRIS-T system. These air defense and missile systems are available and being supplied, but they do not yet meet the demand. Ukraine is still waiting.

To regain the skies, Kiev desperately needs modern, “game-changing” jet fighters. The West initially refused, but then agreed to supply F-16 fighters. Training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians is underway, but it will take many more months to operate them and put them into combat.

Until Ukraine gets the necessary weapons, cities will continue to suffer missile attacks from Moscow and Kiev will continue to face a stalemate on the front.

According to President Zelensky, strengthening air defense capabilities is the number one priority right now. Ukraine urgently needs a fully operational, multi-platform, nationwide air defense network. He is trying to call on Western countries, especially the United States, to take more drastic action soon.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ukraine-bat-dau-hanh-dong-sau-dot-tan-cong-chop-nhoang-cua-300-ten-lua-nga-20240111122919015.htm