Ukrainian air defenses, which previously demonstrated high efficiency, are now facing a serious shortage of missiles for medium- and long-range systems. Ukraine has run out of missiles for the SAMP-T complex, which significantly reduces the ability to protect the airspace, especially in the southern direction. About this informsThe World.
In 2024, Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down more than 90% of enemy drones, but now, in some regions, this figure has dropped to 30%. The main reason is combined attacks using drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as the improvement of models of Russian drones of the “Shahed” type.
The deputy commander of the “Yakut” air defense unit, which includes 23 mobile groups and is responsible for air defense over the Odesa region, said that since January, “shahedis” fly at altitudes of 2,000 to 3,000 meters instead of the usual 200, which makes it impossible to hit them with small arms.
“When they dive at a speed of more than 500 km per hour, it is very difficult to hit them,” he explained.
Drones, which used to be supplied from Iran, are now mass-produced near Kazan, Russia. They are capable of carrying up to 90 kg of payload — three times more than initially — and are used with different types of warheads: fragmentation, incendiary, thermobaric, or submunitions.
“The Russians are also innovating, and they have more resources at their disposal. They just launched five samples of a new type of missile in our area, which they call Banderol, – said 34-year-old Artem, the commander of the anti-aircraft missile battery.
According to him, the Russian troops use increasingly complex trajectories for their drones and cruise missiles: sometimes they fly off in different directions, and later unite again. In addition, physical and electronic baits are actively used.
