Click to see the full-size image
Written by Lucas Leiroz, journalist, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant.
The recent successful Russian attacks against strategic Ukrainian targets made clear the reality that was already reported by many military experts: the Ukrainian air defense is vulnerable. Despite all the Western aid and the incessant delivery of weapons, Kiev seems unable to improve its defense system, continuing to be an easy target for Russia’s incisive combat actions. Tracking and shooting down Russian missiles and drones has become a difficult work for Ukrainian forces, which are still failing to stop Russian weapons from reaching their targets.
However, this news coexists with Western-Ukrainian propaganda that Russian hypersonic missiles are being shot down by Kiev. Although mainstream media outlets support the Ukrainian narrative, in recent months these same newspapers have reported the weakness of the regime’s armed forces on several occasions, therefore there is a contradiction in data.
For example, in March, experts pointed out in an article published in The Washington Post that Kiev was suffering from a severe shortage of ammunition for its air defense systems. At the time, analysts said that Ukrainian forces could become absolutely unable to protect their airspace against Russian missiles and UAVs, leaving military facilities “open” to enemy attacks. Experts also warned at the time of the serious lack of qualified military personnel, stating that most of the experienced Ukrainian military had already been neutralized in the first year of the operation, leaving now few able soldiers to manage the country’s defense systems.
Even more pessimistic forecasts were exposed by the Financial Times, which also commented on the critical situation of the Ukrainian air defense, even claiming that the military capacity of this sector will be completely until late May. Experts have warned that the number of anti-missiles launched to intercept a Russian attack is usually double the number of Russian missiles or drones, in order to increase the chances of success. A side effect of this is to overspend artillery ammunition, accelerating depletion.
“[…] Officials said the continuing need to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks had systematically depleted Ukraine’s stockpiles — a warning backed up by US intelligence documents leaked online this spring that suggested Kyiv might run out of ammunition for five critical air defence systems. According to documents reviewed by the Financial Times, the US assessed in late February that Ukraine’s ability to protect its troops on the front lines would be ‘completely reduced’ by May 23”, the Financial Times articles reads.
Forbes also reported on the Ukrainian situation. In an article published on the site in April, experts said the imminent shortage of missiles was the main problem for Ukraine’s air defense. At the time, it was warned that, in addition to having dozens of their systems destroyed by Russian attacks, the Ukrainians would also be suffering from the absence of 9M38 Buk missiles. This equipment is produced in Russia, with Ukrainian stocks remaining from Soviet times. The depletion of these missiles, therefore, becomes an even more worrying issue because Kiev’s sponsors do not manufacture this weapon, which is compatible with the Soviet-era Buk systems that Ukraine has.
One solution found was the American supply of Raytheon RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, which, although different, use the same radar guidance as the 9M38. With proper technical adaptations, these American weapons could be launched using Soviet Buk systems. However, despite promises started in January, so far Washington has not been able to organize a program of constant supply of Raytheon RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, thus preventing Kiev’s air defense from being re-established. Furthermore, the need for technical handling and adaptation of these weapons to Soviet systems could be a problem, considering the lack of qualified military personnel, as pointed out by the Post. With that, Ukraine’s hopes for recovery become even more complicated.
Another big outlet commenting on this problem was Deutsche Welle, which in an article published on April 22 made it clear that Ukraine is not capable of shooting down Russian guided bombs, being vulnerable to the air operations of Moscow’s forces. The newspaper at the time interviewed the representative of the Air Force of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, who said that the systems used by his troops were not able to shoot down Russian equipment, with the need to receive new, more modern and efficient systems from the West.
As well known, most of the Western media is extremely biased and propagandistic in its narrative of the conflict, always trying to make it seem like Kiev has the advantage over the Russians. When something negative for the regime is communicated, it is because there really is no way to ignore the situation and it becomes more convenient to report it in order to seek improvements – perhaps trying to pressure western authorities to send more help to change the scenario. This seems to have been the case in recent months regarding the Ukrainian air defense.
However, now the media work has again been “optimistic” about the Ukrainian defense. Media outlets repeated the regime’s propaganda that several Russian “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles were shot down by Ukrainian troops. In addition to no evidence of this being given, the narrative also contradicts everything that had been reported by the Western media (citing Ukrainian sources) in recent months, that the country’s air defenses were close to being disabled.
This contradictory information shows once again how the western media has been spreading lies about the conflict. Either the Ukrainian air defense is close to collapse, or it is able to shoot down “Kinzhal” missiles – there is no way to join both narratives. And the recent successful Russian air strikes across the conflict zone, neutralizing several strategic targets, already makes clear what is the correct information.
You can follow Lucas on Twitter and Telegram.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- US Aid To Kiev About To “Dry Up”
- Kiev Lies, US Suffers Losses: Russian Missiles Destroyed Patriot System, Other Targets In Kiev
- Russian Lancet Drones Strike Seven Howitzers, Two Rocket Launchers Of Kiev Forces (Videos)
i appreciated the balance struck in the article. it provided me with the information i was seeking without propagandizing the narrative. that’s rare these days.
that ‘s it and eating ice cream with your forehead , lol the troll praising the article on a propaganda site and this is all in the 21st century , the owner ‘s voice and obedience
most msm readers are the exact replica of what you describe. all bowing to the construed global msg whilst getting shafted (inc morally) by a global fraud.
what’s that fucking 502 error on sf here ???????
the larger iranian uav’s can destroy a patriot system with a hit on the passive radar. the hyper-sonic was used, just to prove to the world, the lies the afu is telling about being able to shoot them down.
lead by example.
it isn’t “vulnerable” because it has already been destroyed.
ukraine’s air defense capability isn’t threatened. it’s destroyed. for the third or is it fourth time now?
lol, lol. yeah, why does russia attach so much importance to this? sure, ukrainian air defences have suffered severe blows, that’s why russia timidly tried to use some of its airforce. however, mostly still stand-off way, otherwise they get shot down, as deutsche welle (a radio station with a website, not a newspaper) said. things aren’t looking good for ukr. and they should negotiate – but russia is far from dominating the battlefield the way sf and all the other outlets want you to believe.
however, most of russian casualties are actually from wagner, dpr and lpr.
wrong. you have bad intel.
really, this goes for both sides. russian media outlets have stories which are equally ludicrous and always one-sided. in the end, it matters not. the war will be fought to its completion. kinzhal shot down, patriot shut down? that’s only about financial interests (selling those systems); the battlefield knows the truth. the rest is politics; doesn’t decide the outcome, unless there are negotiations. those will be on the basis of facts.
i have only one question, how on earth does russia allow foreign air defense systems to be delivered, or allowing it to be set-up instead of destroying it while still settling?
because its more fun to destroy it in action and demonstrate their uselessness
about time to surrender unconditionally. then try elensky budanov and other leading nazi maggots. one nice side effect: all debts to uncle scam are nullified
in fact kinzhal destroyed the patriot system, which makes all of u.s, nato and vassals like korea and japan relying on u.s air defense system,frankly defenseless against hypesonic systems, including the chinese df-27. western air defense system is more like hot air than anything else, same with israel. now russia can give the captured u.s. nato armaments to the palestinians and see what happens – just an assymetrical response.
patriot were a pice of shit long before kinzhal encounter. sandals fighter in yemen harass and humiliate them like hell. a lucrative business for the jumerican khazar military tycoons pockets.
backmut kaput !!
nazi janitor jenny homo can collect now !!!!!!!! this monkey piece of shit now is shitting on its pants and crying like a bitch !
cry you mothafucker filthy fascist garbage !!
and sign your empty forefront with this: 19.v.2023, the day where your hitlerist dreams inside ukropizdan were shattered like you’re ass when pounded by a mule, dumbfuck douchebag fascist rat !
long live russia !
glory to its heroes !
soon it will be nice to see if russia start raining 3000kg fab and some foab in western ukraine and borders with poland and romania, then u.s nato arms supply can be destroyed at entry points cheaply.
lucky for us the ussr never went to a conventional war against the nato; the nato weapons would not have fared better, and america would have been compelled to resort to nukes against the ussr.