The Ukrainian Armed Forces are systematically destroying Russian air defense systems before the arrival of Western fighters. However, the small number of F-16s will not allow them to be used on a large scale this year.
The Ukrainian military is striking enemy air defense systems in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and in Russia’s border regions to protect F-16 fighter jets that are about to arrive in Ukraine. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Institute analysts cited a statement by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, who said that in total the Defense Forces destroyed 20 S-300 launchers and 15 radar stations within an unspecified period of time.
The report also said that on July 8, Syrsky published geolocation footage showing Ukrainian troops using cluster munitions to destroy Russian air defense systems located east of the occupied village of Mangush in the region of Donetsk (west of Mariupol).
At the same time, the founder of the KRAKEN unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense, Konstantin Nemichev, said on July 12 that Ukrainian forces destroyed four Russian S-300 systems used by the troops Russian to strike. Kharkov for an indefinite period of time.
ISW also reported that the Council of Deputies of the Krasninsky rural settlement of the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation reported the destruction of the commander of the Russian S-300 battery as a result of a strike by Ukrainian air defense systems on a position in the Kharkov Direction on July 12.
“The commander of the Russian S-300 probably died during the Ukrainian strike on the occupied Mariupol, because the time of the death of the commander was 15 minutes after the strike on the Russian S-300 air defense system near Mariupol on July 12 At the same time, the ISW found no signs of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian air defense system in the Belgorod region on July 12 and could not confirm the exact location of this attack,” the report said.
The Council of Deputies of the Krasninsky rural settlement also reported that the commander of the S-300 battery, who was killed on July 12, mentioned in a recent letter that in the past two weeks, the strikes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Russian air defense systems kill. two Russian commanders of air defense batteries. ISW suggests that a specific period in June – early July 2024 is indicated.
The Institute for the Study of War recalled Syrsky’s words that Ukrainian forces systematically destroy Russian air defense systems in order to create conditions for the successful use of strike aircraft by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the context of the expected arrival of F-16 fighters in the near future.
ISW noted that F-16 deliveries to Ukraine will begin in small numbers, and that logistical and training limitations will likely prevent Ukrainian forces from using the aircraft extensively by 2024.
Let’s recall that it was previously reported that a certain number of F-16 fighters, whose partners will be transferred to Ukraine, will be stored in secure air bases abroad. Russia has said it will consider foreign-based F-16s supplied to Ukraine as “legitimate targets” if the planes participate in combat missions.
The media reported how many F-16s the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive in the summer
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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.