2024-06-15 04:56:53
“Continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian navy amenities in occupied Crimea look like forcing Russian forces to maneuver further air defenses to Crimea to guard present bases and logistics infrastructure, and additional Ukrainian strikes on such air defenses may render the peninsula unusable as a bridgehead for Russian forces, ” writes ISW.
Analysts cite Kirillo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Protection Ministry’s Primary Intelligence Directorate (HUR), as saying Russia is deploying the S-500 air protection system, basically an upgraded model of the S-300, to Crimea as a part of efforts to strengthen Russia’s “air protection umbrella” over Crimea .
He mentioned Russian forces had not beforehand used the S-500 air protection system in fight and described it as “experimental”.
Forbes additionally reported that Belbek airfield in occupied Crimea is changing into an “attrition lure” for Russian air defenses after a number of profitable Ukrainian strikes on air defenses close to the airfield.
The publication reported that Ukrainian forces might have destroyed components of 4 or 5 S-400 batteries in latest strikes, however famous that the Russian navy has greater than 50 S-400 batteries.
“Ukraine’s present efforts to give attention to Russian air protection umbrellas immediately in Crimea may result in the relocation of much more Russian air protection property to Crimea, leaving them weak to additional Ukrainian strikes,” US analysts mentioned.
ISW estimates that Ukrainian forces could also be conducting an organized effort to degrade Russia’s air protection capabilities, which may enable Ukraine to make use of manned aviation extra successfully in the long run.
2024-06-15 04:56:53