Russia’s Kinzhal missiles hunt for Ukrainian aircraft, not pilots – Ukrainian military expert Samus

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"For several weeks now, there have been strikes on Ukrainian airfields. I still associate this with the basing of Su-24M aircraft, as they are adapted carriers of Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles, and I think that Taurus will be adapted in the same way. For the Russians, these missiles are inaccessible for destruction, that is, Russian air defense misses them. Accordingly, it is critical for them to destroy Ukrainian Su-24M aircraft," the military expert explained.

Mykhailo Samus added that Ukraine has a limited number of such aircraft. There are unmodernized planes that have not yet been brought to flight condition, and Ukraine needs to work on that. But Ukraine’s Air Force has enough aircraft to use the latest missiles.

"As I understand it, Russia is trying to destroy the aircraft where they are based. For example, Russian agent intelligence reports that Su-24M aircraft have been spotted at such an airfield, and attacks are immediately launched against them. This is how I can explain it for myself. It seems to me that hunting young pilots with Kinzhal missiles is too much," Samus said.

• On August 5, the Russian military attacked Khmelnytskyi region three times. In particular, a series of explosions occurred in the Starokostiantyniv and Khmelnytskyi communities. The Russian forces targeted the airfield of Starokostiantyniv. The air defense forces shot down most of the missiles.

• On August 11, during an air alert, Russians attacked Ukraine with missiles. Explosions were heard, in particular, in the Khmelnytskyi region. Air defense systems were operating there. Russia also launched Kinzhal missiles at the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

• The spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat, commented on the Russian strike in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. According to him Russian forces were targeting pilots preparing to train on F-16s