New tactics made perfidious Russian attack possible
Criminal attacks on civilians in Ukraine continue to occur frequently. The recent attack by Russian forces on a children's clinic in Kiev is particularly heinous. The capital is usually well-protected, but a new tactic of Russian troops is causing problems.
According to the Ukrainian Civil Defense, 27 people were killed in the latest Russian attacks on Kiev, among them four children. There are also 117 injured in the capital. The attacks hit, among other places, the largest children's clinic in the country. In addition, there were reported fatalities and injuries in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih. Videos show the impact of several Russian rockets, which, contrary to Russian misinformation, are not anti-aircraft missiles. The fact that so many Russian projectiles were able to hit their targets is due to a new tactic, according to the former spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Yuriy Ignat spoke of 44 rockets of various types that had been fired at cities. Thirty-three of them could be intercepted. This corresponds to an interception rate of 75 percent. This is a value that is not unusual, as the Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly have problems with air defense. Often, significantly fewer rockets have been intercepted in the past.
"Unfortunately, the enemy is not only improving reconnaissance and combat drones, but also other attack weapons - cruise missiles and ballistic missiles - constantly. This makes it increasingly difficult to detect and destroy them," Ignat wrote on social media.
Low Altitude Makes It Hard for Air Defense
In the latest attack, the cruise missiles were reportedly flown at "extremely low altitude." "Sometimes only fifty meters," so Ignat. This makes it particularly difficult to detect and shoot down the missiles before they hit the ground.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also estimates that the Russian military has "likely adapted its tactics and technology to cause maximum damage to Ukrainian infrastructure by denying the Ukrainian air defense almost no time to react before the missile reaches the ground."
According to the Air Force, several older Kh-101 rockets were used in the latest attacks and hit their targets. These can be seen on corresponding videos. Normally, Ukraine has a high hit rate with the Kh-101. "The attacks of July 8 represent a new and adapted attack package that Ukraine must react to with the necessary western air defense systems," the ISW stated.
Kiev had already asked for additional units of the particularly effective Patriot air defense system from its western partners months ago. Meanwhile, there have been several promises, but the systems have probably not yet arrived in the country. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, also pointed out on the X platform that Russian combat aircraft on military airfields must be destroyed.
- The continuous wars and conflicts in Ukraine have led to frequent attacks on civilians, including the recent assault on a children's clinic in Kiev by Russian forces, which is a blatant disregard for politics and humanity.
- The Ukrainian Military is currently grappling with a new tactic employed by Russian troops, where they fly cruise missiles at extremely low altitudes, making it difficult for the Patriot air defense system to intercept them, as seen in the recent attack on Kiev.
- Amidst the ongoing conflicts, Ukraine has requested additional units of the highly effective Patriot air defense system from its western allies to bolster its defense capabilities against these low-altitude attacks, but as of now, these systems have not been delivered.
- The children of Ukraine, caught in the crossfire of these political conflicts, continue to suffer, and it is imperative that international politics prioritize the protection of innocent lives over the escalation of the military conflict.
