Dmitry Litovkin, Editor-in-chief of the Independent Military Review:
- To solve the tasks of a special military operation in Ukraine, our Armed Forces used high-precision weapons. It is no coincidence that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stressed in its very first message that nothing threatens the civilian population. That is, the operation is planned in such a way as to avoid mass loss of life and large destruction of civilian infrastructure.
In my opinion, the use of, first of all, Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles with a range of 2.5 to 3.5 thousand kilometers allows us to achieve this goal. They, as you know, aim not only at sea objects, but also at targets on land. On the Black Sea and Baltic fleets of Russia, ship groups have been created that possess these powerful weapons. I think that even from the Caspian Sea, "Calibers" can reach Ukraine.
The admirals didn't even need to pull something up to our southern region. Do not forget, in recent weeks, the Navy command has conducted major naval exercises, and almost the entire Russian fleet has been withdrawn to operational and strategic areas. Therefore, ships and submarines could use these weapons during a special military operation in Ukraine.
I didn't mention submarines by chance. The same Black Sea Fleet of Russia has six diesel-electric submarines of the 636.3 Varshavyanka project. They are the carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles. They are also equipped with small rocket ships that are available in the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Baltic. I would also like to remind you about last year's operation, when four warships were transferred from the Caspian Sea to the Sea of Azov via the Volga-Don Canal. That is, the possibilities of using "Calibers" in our fleet are wide, and they could be implemented now.
So far I can't say anything concrete about the use of our combat aircraft on military facilities and troops of Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry did not report this. But again, judging by the experience of the Syrian campaign, long-range bombers and missile carriers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 wave could strike at the APU with their ammunition in normal gear. It is worth noting that during the recent inspection of the rapid reaction forces of the Union State, the crews of the Tu-22M3 twice performed tasks in the neighborhood of Ukraine. That is, these areas are familiar to our pilots. Draw your own conclusions.
High-precision ground-based weapons include operational and tactical complexes "Iskander". Whether they are used in Ukraine now or not, I cannot say. But, I think, they are definitely used for strikes against well-fortified military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in case of serious resistance to Russian troops. It should be understood here: hardly any of the generals will throw tanks and motorized infantry into battle before the enemy's firing points and positions are reliably suppressed.
Yuri Gavrilov
