2024-06-15 22:15:51
“Russia has deployed the S-500 common anti-aircraft protection system in Crimea as a result of Ukraine is intensifying its assaults towards the occupied peninsula,” Okay. Budanov reported slightly earlier.
The superior S-500 system, which Okay. Budanov described as “experimental”, has by no means been used on the battlefield, Ukrainian information portal UNIAN notes.
Russia has deployed the S-500 to guard the Kerch bridge and likewise to strengthen Russia’s air protection community in occupied Crimea. The bridge is each a simplified route for Russian troops to succeed in the territory and a logo of Russia’s management of the peninsula.
Crimea has been repeatedly focused by Ukrainian drones and missiles, whereas Ukrainian assaults towards Russian air protection programs have intensified in latest weeks.
What is understood concerning the S-500?
The S-500, also called Prometheus, is a cellular air protection system designed to intercept ballistic missiles and different long-range weapons. The system is “a considerably modernized model of the S-300,” in accordance with the US-based Institute for Navy Analysis (ISW).
This method has been examined a number of instances, however the S-500 has by no means seen precise fight. Russia’s Protection Ministry has claimed it will possibly intercept all weapons, together with hypersonic missiles, that are very quick and fly on unpredictable routes at low altitudes. Nonetheless, such system capabilities nonetheless stay unclear.
The S-500 has had a big variety of manufacturing disruptions, beginning with the mission’s inception in 2010. and ending with main delays over the subsequent decade. This raised many questions on the viability of the S-500 as an air protection system.
in 2021 this air protection system was put into use by the Russian military, however their amount was restricted. in 2024 In April, then-Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu introduced that the S-500 would serve a twin goal as an anti-missile protection and air protection system.
The S-500’s new function in defending the Kerch Bridge and bolstering Russia’s air protection capabilities in Crimea comes as Ukraine prepares strikes on the peninsula to render the realm unusable by the Russian army.
Ukrainian assaults in Crimea
For the reason that finish of Might, Ukrainian forces have elevated the variety of assaults in Crimea, particularly towards Russian anti-aircraft defenses. The Common Workers of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported a variety of strikes, together with this week’s strikes towards S-300 and S-400 programs.
Ukraine is suspected of utilizing US-provided ATACMS army tactical missile programs for these strikes, amongst different measures.
So long as Ukraine continues to focus on air protection programs on the peninsula, Russia could deploy extra such programs there, leaving them weak to additional strikes by Ukraine. Such assaults may pressure and exhaust Russia’s air protection arsenal, UNIAN writes.
Ukraine’s strikes in Crimea have lengthy been supported by the US and different Western allies, and commenced after US President Joe Biden and different NATO leaders agreed to permit Ukraine to make use of long-range weapons to strike Russian targets within the occupied territories.
As ISW analysts level out, Ukraine may repeat the success of its strikes in Crimea in different occupied territories if Western allies approve such strikes, thus creating alternatives for Ukraine and decreasing Russia’s capabilities.
Ready in accordance with data from UNIAN and Enterprise Insider.
2024-06-15 22:15:51