Tactics from the 90s helped to calculate and hit the anti-aircraft complexThe Russian armed forces have destroyed the American Patriot anti-aircraft complex in Kiev with a strike of a hypersonic Dagger missile.
During the attack, the Ukrainian air defense spent several dozen Patriot, SAMP-T, IRIS, NASAMS and S-300 missiles, but could not prevent a Russian strike. In addition to the Patriot division, several positions of other air defense systems were destroyed. Experts note that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation used tactics to combat American air defense systems, developed back in the 90s. Many years later, it proved its effectiveness on the battlefield.
"Dagger" attack
On the night of May 16, a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by the United States was hit by a high-precision strike with a hypersonic Dagger missile in Kiev, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
As sources familiar with the situation told Izvestia, during the strike, Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners used up several dozen Patriot, SAMP-T, IRIS-T, NASAMS and S-300 missiles. This did not help the Ukrainian air defense to repel the combined missile strike of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In addition to the Patriot SAM division, several positions of other anti-aircraft systems were also hit.
— Patriot, which was delivered to Ukraine, is one of the first versions to be carried on semi—trailers, - military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia. — Its peculiarity is that it occupies a certain positional area about two kilometers by two kilometers in size. Another feature is that it had eight launchers, although usually there are two or three per battery. And so we saw a desperate attempt by Patriot to shoot down the "Dagger" that was flying towards them. They used up all the ammunition. 32 missiles flew away, did not hit. As a result, the "Dagger" destroyed the heart of this Patriot — radar and control point. And he became useless.
American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
The expert noted that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation used tactics that were known back in the 90s.
— I won't disclose the details, but she forced Patriot to enter combat work, — he explained. — Thus, the positional area where the Patriot was located was discovered, and a "Dagger" was struck on it. This proves that the Patriot radar could not determine the approach of the Dagger. And only when it became clear that the "Dagger" was already heading towards them, they began to shoot back. But Patriot cannot shoot down Daggers, 32 missiles is a very large expense. This indicates the complete inefficiency of the Patriot in relation to the hypersonic complex.
Alexey Leonkov believes that Patriot not only sees the Dagger poorly, but also cannot provide guidance on it.
—The 32 missiles launched are a gesture of desperation, not the actions of professionals," he concluded.
Also that night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a concentrated strike on the locations of Ukrainian army units, military equipment and ammunition delivered from Western countries.
High-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons were used to defeat targets.
— The target of the strike has been achieved. All designated facilities have been hit," said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
Tank duel
On May 16, Izvestia correspondent Daniil Levin showed the work of tankers in the Zaporozhye direction.
Tankers of the Eastern Military District are firing at enemy armored vehicles. They are in full view of the enemy, so you need to act quickly and accurately. Tanks work in pairs, covering each other.
— We leave constantly, almost every day. Reconnaissance by battle takes place at the enemy — one or two "boxes" leave. Sometimes, it happens, under the cover of an enemy tank. We are working out, everything is fine," the tanker said.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Maishev
Image source: iz.ru
Immediately after firing, they immediately change positions. The cars are going to the next firing line.
Recently, there was a rare episode for combat operations — a tank duel with direct fire.
— We were already rolling away, and a voice was heard on the radio: "In front of you is a tank, tank, tank. Not ours." We were like, "What's not ours?" Walking along our road to our rear. And it turned out that we caught up with them and took them apart in the stern," says a young commander with the call sign Altai.
He is a hereditary tankman. His brother also serves in the unit. My father and grandfather were tankmen. And the great-grandfather on the T-34 liberated Ukraine from the German invaders.
Hold the flanks
Over the past day, up to 475 people and more than 30 pieces of military equipment, including howitzers, armored vehicles and self-propelled guns, have been lost in the special operation zone in all strategic directions of the VFU, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on May 16.
In the western part of Artemovsk, Russian assault detachments continued to fight to liberate city blocks. The units of the Southern group of troops held back the enemy, covering their flanks.
The most difficult situation developed in the area of the settlement of Krasnoe, where units of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade repelled 10 attacks of the VFU during the day.
During the fierce fighting, more than 70 militants, an infantry fighting vehicle and two armored personnel carriers were destroyed.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
Also, not far from Krasny, an air strike destroyed a road bridge over which the enemy was transferring reinforcements to Artemovsk.
Fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the areas of the settlements of Varvarovka and Krasnoarmeysk in the DPR shot down Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force.
The total losses of the VFU in the Donetsk direction amounted to up to 215 militants, five armored fighting vehicles, seven cars, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.
Russian air defense intercepted seven Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, three HARM anti-radar missiles, as well as seven HIMARS multiple rocket launchers during the day. In addition, 22 Ukrainian drones were destroyed.
In the Kharkiv region, the DPR and the LPR, the actions of six Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed.
At the distance of a grenade throw
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
A platoon under the command of the guard of senior ensign Mustafa Seitvaapov supplied everything necessary to the brigade leading the battle near one of the settlements.
Advancing to the front line, the column with ammunition and fuel and lubricants, led by Mustafa, was subjected to heavy artillery fire. Keeping calm, he organized the column's exit from under fire without losses among personnel and equipment.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Image source: iz.ru
Mustafa's bold and decisive actions did not allow the enemy to interrupt the supply of Russian troops on the front line.
Sergeant Mikhail Gladilin, as part of a battalion tactical group, held a strategically important object. Under heavy fire, he transmitted information about the enemy to artillery units.
During the next artillery raid, the radio station received shrapnel damage from a shell that exploded nearby, after which our units lost the opportunity to adjust the fire for a while. Despite the heavy fire, Mikhail started repairing communication equipment.
At that moment, Mikhail discovered an approaching enemy group. He secretly moved to a more advantageous position for an unexpected attack and hit three nationalists with a hand grenade, and destroyed the rest with small arms fire.
Having repelled the attack of the group, Mikhail repaired the radio station and continued to adjust the fire. His actions on the battlefield allowed him to repel the enemy's attack and throw him back to his original positions.
Alexey Ramm
Bogdan Stepovoy
Roman Kretsul