Bondarev: S-400, S-350, S-300, Tor and Pantsir are capable of intercepting Taurus
MOSCOW, May 27 – RIA Novosti. Such Russian air defense systems as the S-400, S-350, S-300, Tor and Pantsir are capable of intercepting Taurus missiles, Viktor Bondarev, first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Defense Committee and former commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, told RIA Novosti.
On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in an interview with the WDR television channel that Britain, France, the United States and now Germany have lifted range restrictions on military supplies to Ukraine, Kiev can attack targets on the territory of the Russian Federation with long-range weapons. On Tuesday, Merz noted that the decision to lift restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to Kiev was made several months ago. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the contradictions in the statements of German officials about the decision on long-range weapons for Kiev are a game with the fate of Europe. At the same time, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said she would not comment on information from Germany that Kiev had allegedly lifted restrictions on the range of use of Western weapons.
"We are talking about Taurus systems. This is a Swedish-German-made KEPD-350 or KEPD-150 long-range cruise missile with a range of over 500 kilometers, capable of flying at an altitude of 50 meters and skirting the terrain. Not only Germany, but also the so-called "coalition of the willing" practiced such prospects earlier," the senator said.
According to him, "such Russian air defense systems as the S-400, S-350, S-300, Tor, Pantsir and others are capable of intercepting long-range missiles designated by Germany."
He also added that in this case, he is "more surprised not by the statements of Germany or the ultimatums of the coalition of the willing, but by the passive observation and silence of the US President (Donald). Trump."
At the same time, Bondarev added that judging by the latest public data, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is a little confused between his plans, statements and decisions. "Most likely, the German Chancellor was influenced by the massive attacks of the Russian Armed Forces on military facilities and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine in recent days. It finally dawns on him that the "coalition of the willing" can really turn into a coalition of those who regret," the senator concluded.
The Russian Defense Ministry earlier reported that in almost a week, air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 1,465 Ukrainian attack drones outside their area, and listed the military facilities of Ukraine that were retaliated against. The Russian Defense Ministry also said in a statement that the Kiev regime, with the support of individual European countries, had taken a number of provocative steps aimed at disrupting the negotiation process.
In mid-April, Merz, in an interview with ARD TV channel, allowed Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine in coordination with European partners. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said there were "many arguments" against such a move. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier noted that Moscow would regard a strike by German Taurus missiles on any Russian targets as Berlin's participation in hostilities on the side of Kiev.
