In the past few weeks, airstrikes in Ukraine, announced due to the withdrawal of potential Kinzhal MiG-31 missile carriers, last three to four hours.
Concerns over the withdrawal of MiG-31K aircraft from Russia are frightening Ukraine, causing economic losses, and seem to be becoming a separate form of manipulation. In the past few weeks, air raid alerts in Ukraine due to MiG-31K takeoffs have lasted three to four hours. Usually, they are not followed by attacks on the territory of Ukraine, but they affect people’s lives.
What to do about it?
Can fly longer
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces did not exclude that Russia may continue its tactics when, against the backdrop of the threat of an attack on Ukraine, they announced long-term air strikes to paralyze the life of the country .
“Before, the alarms lasted only 20-30 minutes, the takeoff and landing were done, but now there are almost five a day. It keeps you in suspense – the anxiety is there, gone, and half hour then it started again. It also lasted half a day. In addition, they flew for an hour and a half, that is, their standard tanks allowed them to stay in the air for an hour and a half without refueling the MiG. And there were three or four such departures about six months ago,” Ignat said.
During the alarm, the economy and business suffer and the work of educational institutions stops. According to Ignat, Russia will use all the tools for such “terrorist tactics.”
He was asked whether, in the event of prolonged alarms, Ukraine could be divided into risk levels. The spokesperson replied that such an option has not been considered, as this decision must be balanced and requires a serious approach.
According to Ignat, the risk from MIG takeoffs still exists.
“There is danger. He’s not going anywhere. As for the threat of using ballistic weapons: it is clear that the alarm will be declared in some regions where ballistics can reach. The MiG-31K can reach any point in our state,” added Ignat.
Change in response to MIL
Aviation expert Valery Romanenko believes that the country needs to react somehow and not completely stop life in Ukraine after the flight of any MiG-31.
“Because of the distances at which they were seen, it was impossible to determine whether it was a regular MiG-31 interceptor without a missile, or a MiG-31K, but with a missile. You can’t imagine it from a distance, but you can sort of -classify these threats based on quantitative indicators and the flight route. And, apparently, our reaction to these threats as well. That is, make air raid warnings not black and white – exist whether it is or not,” he believes.
Economist Sergei Fursa said that the exact amount of economic damage from anxiety has not been calculated, but there is definitely damage.
“It’s clear that the concerns have to be diversified. It’s one thing when something flies, it doesn’t matter if it’s suicide bombs or cruise missiles. It flies and often flies more than one, and therefore the threat is obvious. And then we can have a red air raid alert. And then it makes sense to include restrictions. But only if we have the risk of launching, especially since we see from the flight history that the this danger, we can introduce an air raid warning. Yellow. Like the color of a traffic light. At a time when there is no need to stop the work of transport and various institutions… Yes, there is a separate story in schools and kindergartens. But if learning is stopped, if they decide that a yellow alert for one school is like a red alert for all, then the economic damage will be minimal. And this may be an exception. The same goes for military facilities,” the economist suggests.
Journalist Sergei Sidorenko described the story of how the alarm found him in Kyiv during the campaign of a diplomat from one of the European countries:
“This afternoon I met with a diplomat from a Western country (I can’t be specific). The alarm sounded. And after a few hours he received a message: it’s MIG, no need to go to the shelter. This is their security protocol. The embassy service looks at the source of the alarm and makes a recommendation. So: according to him, most of the alarms in the months he was working here were labeled “no immediate danger.” There was also alarms labeled real alarms, then diplomats have to go to shelters. But MiG departures are considered “alarms” where you can go about your business. Again, this is a Western diplomat. From a country where security is not an empty phrase!”
In Ukraine, the diversity of alarms at the official level remains an open question.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.