Image source: topwar.ru
The first documentary evidence of the delivery of French Crotale NG anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine has appeared on the Internet. The Ukrainian military published a corresponding photo of the French air defense system.
Recall that the Crotale is an all-weather short-range anti-aircraft missile system, which is designed for air defense of facilities, control centers, combat formations of troops from threats at medium, low and extremely low altitudes.
According to open sources, the French armed forces currently have 8 divisions of the "Crotale 3000", "Crotale upgraded" and "Crotale NG" air defense systems, and the systems are also in service with Egypt, Greece, the UAE, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Chile, and South Korea. After the beginning of the special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, SAMs of this type were transferred in the amount of 4 complexes to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Image source: topwar.ru
However, until recently, the press did not have photos of French air defense systems in the location of Ukrainian troops, so the publication of photos of anti-aircraft missile systems is the first documentary confirmation of their use by Ukrainian formations.
It should be noted that Russia criticizes the supply of Western-made weapons and military equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, these supplies only contribute to the escalation of the armed conflict and in no way bring its peaceful settlement closer. However, Western countries believe that arms supplies bring the "victory" of Ukrainian formations in the conflict closer, therefore they are focused only on their buildup.
