Espreso. Global
Review

New details on missile attack on Okhmatdyt and other objects in Ukraine. Serhiy Zgurets' column

10 July, 2024 Wednesday
11:59

Russian forces are upgrading their Kh-101, Iskander, and Kalibr missiles with decoys to complicate interception

client/title.list_title

Russian missile attack on Kyiv

Following Monday's missile strike on Okhmatdyt and other locations in Ukraine, Russia predictably resorted to lies and cynicism. They claimed that they only target military infrastructure, and the casualties at Okhmatdyt were caused by a Ukrainian NASAMS anti-aircraft missile. The notion that Russia doesn't strike civilian targets is the biggest lie imaginable.

The attack on Kyiv's children's hospital mirrors the airstrike on the Mariupol theater in March 2022. Despite large "CHILDREN" signs indicating the presence of children, Russian pilots bombed the theater intentionally. At that time, Russia lacked advanced anti-aircraft systems and bombed at close range, making it impossible to miss the signs. Since then, Russia has committed thousands of other war crimes.

Regarding the claim that it was a NASAMS missile, not a Kh-101: this is another blatant lie. The Security Service of Ukraine announced on July 9 that new evidence confirms it was indeed a Kh-101 missile. They have engine fragments, the body, and a control unit with serial numbers. Additionally, video footage shows a missile strike matching the Kh-101's shape and size, completely unrelated to the NASAMS missile. It's worth noting that the NASAMS missile, an AIM-120 air-to-air missile, self-destructs if it misses its target. Thus, it is impossible for such a missile to hit a ground target, and it is significantly smaller in size.

But the question arises: why weren't all the missiles shot down? If half of the attacking missiles miss, it's still considered a good indicator under old standards. Over the past six months, Ukraine has shot down an average of 46% of missiles. In the previous six months, this figure was about 73%. Yesterday, during the second wave of the Russian attack, 30 of the 38 missiles were shot down, according to Ukraine's Air Force Command.

Currently, Russia has changed tactics. The missiles are flying at lower altitudes, making them harder to detect and shoot down. They are upgrading the Kh-101, Iskander, and Kalibr missiles, adding decoys to make interception tougher. General Ihor Romanenko thinks the Russians managed to overload the capital's air defense system by launching a large number of missiles from different directions simultaneously, converging to strike the capital almost at once. This is known as a "star" strike in military terms. Romanenko believes the Patriot system alone isn't enough to handle all ballistic missiles.

A week before this Russian strike, Colonel Serhiy Yaremenko, commander of the 96th anti-aircraft missile brigade covering the capital, gave an interview. Yaremenko is mainly responsible for forming the capital's defense system. He said that both Ukraine and Russia are learning. When we effectively destroy their means of attack, they adapt. They try to bypass Ukraine's anti-aircraft missile defenses, take new routes, improve attack trajectories, and overload our systems. This interview was published a week before the missile strike. Each Russian strike is more complex than the last. The hardest task is predicting their actions and creating an effective defense system. This is the challenge ukraine's Air Force faces now.

There’s another assumption. It's likely that not all the Patriots currently covering the capital were used. Some might be covering other cities or performing other critical tasks. Strengthening air defense is urgent. We expect new air defense systems for Ukraine to be announced at the NATO summit. The US ambassador to NATO mentioned there would be news. But, it's unfortunate that Ukraine pays a very high price for each decision.

Technologies 

In Ukraine, some companies are paving the way for the Ukrainian military to effectively use both domestic and foreign weapons on the battlefield. Logics7 Ukraine is one such company, providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with simulators to enhance military skills.

Ihor Bielov, owner of Logics7 Ukraine, stated that since the full-scale invasion began, they’ve developed over 50 fire training systems. These systems help prepare fighters quickly. As Western partners supply new weapon models, these training systems allow fighters to gain relevant skills without using live ammunition. Some weapons, like MANPADS, can't be replicated in simulators due to the difficulty of reproducing air targets. However, their training systems use accurate mathematics and ballistics to mirror real weapons. They also have full-scale models that provide not just visual training but also tactile feedback.

Bielov highlighted that many engineers, programmers, and combat instructors are working on simulators, leading to constant updates and adjustments in training systems. The company's goal remains the same: to develop all types of weapons used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, especially for infantry, to provide comprehensive fire training. This mission is crucial because it's essential to quickly and effectively train new recruits and address the gaps at the front. By year-end, about 10 new weapon modules will be developed as simulators.

He pointed out that the company is facing personnel issues, particularly with employee reservations and the reservation system itself. Some specialists are irreplaceable, even for short periods. Additionally, financial challenges arise from the procurement system, which currently makes it easier to buy drones and pickup trucks than the training systems needed to train fighters.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Monday
11 November
15:54
Exclusive
Putin shapes Ukraine's allies by having drones cross borders - Ukraine general
15:38
Review
Ukrainian Kherson: Two years since liberation from Russian occupation
15:17
IMF launches mission for sixth review of Ukraine cooperation program - Ukrainian officials
14:47
Russian missile strikes apartment building in Kryvyi Rih: children among injured
14:34
OPINION
So long as Trump's scythe finds Putin's stone
13:59
Starmer and Macron to push for stronger support for Ukraine amid Trump presidency fears
13:39
Exclusive
Putin has no reason to negotiate, he feels confident - military expert Zgurets
13:18
Scholz ready to resume talks with Putin soon, but will not do it alone
13:00
Russia launched 2,000 UAVs in October, half of them decoys, says Ukraine’s intelligence
12:52
Kremlin denies Trump-Putin phone call
12:10
160 clashes occur on Russian-Ukrainian front: Russia focuses attacks on Kurakhove sector
11:46
Ukraine's Kursk operation: Russian troops mass in thousands to push for advancement, says top general
11:24
Exclusive
Kupyansk direction situation changes rapidly — Ukraine’s Achilles Brigade
10:59
Borrell spends morning in shelter due to Russian attack on Ukraine's Kyiv
10:39
Ukrainian forces strike at cluster of Russian paratroopers in Zaporizhzhia direction: video
10:15
Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter destroyed in Moscow region - Ukraine's intelligence
09:59
Russian military losses in Ukraine surpass 710,000 personnel
09:47
Russia hits private house in Ukraine's Mykolaiv at night, killing 5 people
2024, Sunday
10 November
21:42
Exclusive
Ukraine's new record: 700 people simultaneously get tactical medicine training in Kyiv
20:06
Russia amasses 50,000 troops to regain Kursk territory - media
19:33
108 combat clashes take place at front on November 10: Russia is most active in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Vremivkа sectors
19:03
Exclusive
Political scientist says when we can expect initial results of negotiations with Russia
18:23
Ukrainian government allows civilians to shoot occupying Russian forces with declared weapons
18:02
OPINION
Putin will listen to Trump
17:24
Russia fires 800+ UAVs, 600 drones, almost 20 missiles at Ukraine in one week
16:55
OPINION
Volyn, Bucha, Amsterdam… Categorical violence?
16:33
Over 10 Russian Shahed drones from Ukraine enter Belarus overnight
16:01
OPINION
Putin at Valdai: A bid for a second Yalta
15:35
22-year-old British volunteer dies in action against Russian forces in Ukraine
14:50
OPINION
In our cynical world it is time to grow up
14:27
Drone crashes in Moldova following Russian attack on Ukraine
14:21
Explosions, blaze at military base: Ukrainian Defense Forces target ammo depots in Russia's Bryansk region
13:59
October sees Russia's heaviest losses in Ukraine - UK defense chief
13:34
Russia launches record number of drones at Ukraine overnight
13:02
Exclusive
Diplomat: For Putin, "negotiations" are just conditions for Ukraine's surrender
12:28
Moscow mayor reports 32 drones target outskirts of Russian capital
11:55
Russian drone attacks strike Odesa, Kharkiv regions, causing casualties
11:33
U.S. may soon announce ceasefire date, security guarantees for Ukraine – Poland's PM
11:06
Russia loses 1,340 soldiers, 11 tanks, 31 artillery systems in one day of war in Ukraine
10:31
Russian forces execute unarmed, wounded Ukrainian soldier
More news